6 Tips to Protect Your Plants

Your plants will look healthier and perform better if they are protected from certain things. Just like animals, plants suffer from inclement weather as well as uninvited guests like plant-eating beetles and other pests. To make it easier for plants to cope, there are few things you can do to help. Read ahead to learn six important tips to protect your plants from insects, weather and other damage.

Try These Steps to Promote Healthy Plants

Add Organic Matter to the Soil

Water penetration depends to a large extent on the type of soil. A sandy soil has large particles and water passes through it rapidly. For clay soil, particles are smaller and will make water penetration much slower. The solution in both instances is to add organic matter to the soil. Such materials as natural composts will help to balance things and improve the water-holding capacity of soil.

Use Organic Mulch to Retain Water

Mulching is efficient in reducing evaporation of available water and blocking thirsty plants. Organic mulches also retain water and make it available to plants when needed. In addition, organic mulches will also improve soil quality and the humidity around plants. Salt, shredded newspaper, chopped leaves, grass clippings, and composts are common organic mulches.

Deliver Water to the Root Zone

During the heat of the summer or during a drought, there is a need to get water to the root zone of plants. Instead of relying on sprinklers, go for drip irrigation and soaker hoses. This way, you will get water to the root systems of your plants and ensure their survival. Weeds will also be starved of water and controlled.

Handpick Insect Pests off Plants

This may seem like a hard work, but it will be fun. Pests like caterpillars, slugs, snails, and other large adult insects and through them into soapy water. For tiny insects and egg masses, shake them off plant leaves into soapy water or a piece of paper and dispose of them properly. Handpicking insects is a great way to protect plants in your garden, but this will not work in large farms.

Encourage Beneficial Insects

There are beneficial insects that will help you in a number of ways. They feed on the harmful insects and will not harm your plant in the process. Insects like lady beetles, lacewings, praying mantis, and trichogramma wasps. Be sure to plant crops that attract these insects, or introduce them on purpose.

Use Non-Toxic Sprays

There are non-toxic sprays that can help you control many pests. Forceful spray of water alone can be helpful. There are insecticides made from plant extracts as well as horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps that can help you to control pests.

Use these tips to help protect your plants from pests and extreme weather conditions. This will go a long way in helping the growth and development of your healthy plants.

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Photo by Celeste Makow on Unsplash