Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook

By: Susan Mulvihill

Published by Cool Springs Press, 2021-04-27

<b>In <i>The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook,</i> you’ll find the simple, straightforward resources and tools you need to identify common pests of edible gardens and manage them without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides.</b><br><br> Climate change and newly introduced <b>insect pests</b> are changing the world of gardening. Pests that once produced a single generation per year are now producing two or even three, and accidentally imported pest insects have no natural predators to keep them in check. These leaf-munching critters can cause significant damage in short order, <b>reducing your yields and costing you time and money</b>, especially if your garden is out of balance or your plants are stressed and vulnerable.<br><br> Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, author and garden pro Susan Mulvihill shows you <b>how to handle pest issues by growing healthier plants</b>, <b>properly identifying the culprit</b>, and <b>nurturing the overall ecosystem of the garden</b>. With easy-to-use charts, you’ll learn how to <b>identify common vegetable garden pests</b> based on both the damage they cause and their physical appearance.<br><br><b>DIY pest-control projects</b>, coupled with up-to-date info on<b> the best natural products</b>, <b>physical pest-control tricks</b>, and tips for <b>managing pests with the use of traps and barriers</b>, all lead to a garden where beneficial insects and pollinators are preserved while pest populations are kept in check.<br><br> Learn how to: <ul><li>Get rid of <b>squash bugs</b> with minimal effort</li><li>Screen out <b>root maggots</b> </li><li>Keep <b>cutworms</b> at bay</li><li>Nurture the good bugs that help control<b> tomato hornworms</b></li><li>Tackle an infestation of <b>mites, thrips, or whiteflies</b></li><li>Send<b> cucumber beetles</b> packing</li><li>Limit <b>cabbage worms</b> with a simple, inexpensive trick</li><li>Learn about the best <b>earth-friendly product controls</b> for home vegetable gardeners</li></ul><b>Identifying and controlling common vegetable garden pests</b> has never been a favorite task of gardeners, but with Susan’s help, positive results are easier than you think!