Garden Under Siege: My Real-Life Battle with Summer Pests
garden pests
It’s that time of year again—when the garden should be flourishing, and instead, pests seem to think it’s their personal buffet. If you’ve ever walked out to a promising peach tree only to find nothing but pits, or noticed that your strawberries are getting snacked on before you can even pick them, then welcome to the club.
This summer has been a wild ride in the garden, and I’m sharing it all—what worked, what didn’t, and how I plan to fight back next season.
🐛 Know Your Enemy – Identifying Common Summer Pests
Gardening isn’t always sunshine and sweet harvests. Sometimes, it’s a battleground. Here are the top pests that made my summer 2024 season one to remember:
- Potato Beetles – Nasty little things that look as disgusting as they are destructive. Found feasting on the foliage after tubers had formed (thankfully).
- Slugs and Insects – Particularly fond of my strawberries, especially the big, juicy ones I was most excited to eat.
- Voles, Moles, or Groundhogs – Some mysterious tunneler munched on my carrots, leaving behind more questions than roots.
- Birds – Sweet, chirpy thieves who decided my raspberries and cherries were theirs this year.
- Mystery Peach Raider – One day: a tree full of peaches. The next: empty branches and pits on the ground. Still no idea who (or what) did it.
squirrel in tree
🛡️ The Battle Plan – How to Outsmart Each Pest
After a season full of surprises and setbacks, I’ve gathered a few solid strategies to help keep these pests in check. Here’s what I wish I had used earlier:
1. Potato Beetles
colorado potato beetle
- Crop Rotation: Don’t plant potatoes in the same spot every year. I thought “close enough” was fine—turns out it wasn’t.
- Row Covers: Protect young plants before beetles arrive.
- Organic Sprays: Neem oil or Spinosad work well.
- Hand-Picking: Not for the squeamish (definitely not for me).
👉 More on managing potato beetles – UMN Extension
2. Slugs and Insects on Strawberries
slug eating fruit
- Keep Fruit Off the Ground: Mulch, landscape fabric, or raised beds work wonders.
- Harvest Frequently: Don’t give pests time to settle in.
- Prune and Tidy Your Patch: A wild patch becomes a pest hotel.
👉 Slug control tips – OSU Extension
3. Carrot Predators (Voles, Moles, Groundhogs?)
mole in the garden
- Vibrating Stakes: I tried them. Verdict? Not effective in my case.
- Natural Repellents: Organic granules may help—but results were mixed.
- Underground Fencing: A future investment to block tunnels from below.
4. Birds on the Berries
- Bird Netting: Should’ve gone up earlier.
- Timing is Everything: Cover as soon as fruit starts forming.
- Plant Extras: As my husband says, “Grow enough for the birds and the bees.”
Check out The Ultimate Guide for Growing Blackberries.
5. The Great Peach Mystery
- Plum Curculio: Hit early—next year, I’ll spray sooner.
- Unknown Thief: Deer? Bats? Ok bats may be a little extreme. But, Squirrels..maybe? Still a mystery.
- Lesson Learned: Don’t wait to harvest—if it’s ripe, pick it.
✅ What Worked, What Didn’t
This summer was a mix of “I’ve got this!” and “Why is this happening?” Some of the things I tried worked okay, while others were a bust (like the vibrating vole deterrents). Hand-picking bugs was never even on the table for me—I draw the line at anything squishy and crawling.
What really worked was being observant and adjusting as I went. That’s the reality of gardening: it’s part planning, part reacting.
What worked:
- Row covers
- Netting
- Being observant and adjusting as I went
What didn’t:
- Vibration deterrents
- Waiting too long to act
- Hoping pests “just wouldn’t show up”
🌱 Proactive Gardening – Tips for the Next Season
- Rotate Crops: Especially for nightshades like potatoes and tomatoes
- Install Netting Early: Don’t wait for pests to show up
- Mulch Generously: Weed control + pest deterrence
- Keep the Garden Tidy: Fewer hiding places
- Document Everything:Track it all with a garden journal or vlog
💬 Conclusion: Gardening Is a Journey
Pests are part of the process. They’re frustrating, yes—but also part of what makes every harvest feel so rewarding. Each summer teaches me something new, and I hope this post helps you skip a few hard lessons in your own garden.
If you’ve battled pests this year, I’d love to hear from you!
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Happy gardening (and pest-proofing)! 🌿
