When we imagine the perfect garden, certain images come to mind. Whether they be
the immaculate rose bushes that dotted the gardens of my childhood or an ethereal
koi pond. Perhaps, a row of veggies or two and one can never forget the large,
preferably old family tree perfect for games of hiding and seek or for a shady spot to
picnic under.
However, some things can dampen our vision for a beautiful garden. These
creatures, though a part of nature, play havoc on our gardens and throw our once
pleasant grove into disarray. Today we are going to be unpacking the various ways
you can get to pest proof your garden and have it back in shape in no time at all.
Creating an Action Plan
Firstly, be sure to figure out what type of animal or insect is attacking your sanctuary.
Next, try your best to ensure your garden is as unpalatable to those little critters as
humanly possible. It can be done ethically by removing hiding places like a huge pile
of leaves or a hollowed out log. If you are facing a squirrel, rodent or large animal
problem, then you may want to consider putting up fencing around your plants.
But what if you are facing something decidedly creepier and slightly crawly, well then
you may want to consider using a homemade and fully organic pesticide to target the
insects rather than using a commercial variety that may have chemicals that can
negatively affect the environment.
The hacks
For those eager to preserve their beloved veggie patch, look no further than chicken
wire. By placing a chicken wire cloche over your greens not only will the dogs but
also any other curious ones will also be staved off from your grub. The best part
about the chicken wire cloches is that they can also be used as decorative elements
for inside your house as well.
Tired of the rather slimy snails and slugs raging against your well-cultivated
landscape, then perhaps the answer might lie in your breakfast. Eggshells, when
ground up, are entirely organic, natural repellent to snails and slugs. Simply take a
whole bunch of eggshells, grind them up in your blender and then plant them in the
soil to protect your flowers and vegetable patch.
Another idea to help preserve your foliage is to raise your garden bed, as it makes it
a lot harder for small pests and animals to reach the flowers and attack them. Also,
raised garden beds have been found to be better for gardeners who suffer from back
pain, as it reduces the amount of bending through increasing the height of the plants
close to the gardener’s height.

A further idea to combat, yet another pest known to wreak havoc on even the best
maintained of gardens is weeds. You can make an all-natural, environmentally
friendly weed killer that suppresses the growth of weeds. The potent aroma of
vinegar is known to deter pests from venturing into gardens as well, so this is a two
in one solution that is both budget and nature-friendly.
To avoid making a fool of yourself while preparing your lawn for its usual invasion,
make sure to engage in safety practices at all times when working with tools and try
to avoid common mishaps by thoroughly reading through the instructions of the DIY
project.
All in all, DIY hacks seem to be one of the easiest ways to protect your garden from
the intelligent little creatures that nature has filled our gardens. For more inspiration
on gardens and to see a host of beautiful flowers and other plants, be sure to visit
and support your local flower stores such as Cedar Grove Gardens and fall in love
with flowers all over again.
Bio: Sarah shares the ins and outs of home improvement on her blog, The DIY
Hammer. Learn more about how to make your own projects on her blog!