Imagine that you step out of your house to take a breather and admire your garden when you notice something’s not quite right. Your beautiful roses are covered in strange black spots, and there seems to be an abundance of tiny holes in your leafy vegetables. These are all common signs that your landscape has become a victim of pests.
Pests come in many shapes and sizes and can damage your plants if left unchecked. That’s why it’s crucial to be able to spot them early and take steps to get rid of them.
Common Landscape Pests
You must have seen a few insects in your garden before, but you didn’t know what they were. Many of them are flying, crawling, or burrowing, wreaking havoc on your landscape. Not all insects you spot are necessarily pests, but here are some common ones that you should be on the lookout for:
- Aphids
- Scale insects
- Mealybugs
- Lace bugs
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
- Caterpillars
- Beetles
- Webworms
- Bagworms
These insects feast on your plants, leaving behind unsightly damage, sucking out their nutrients, and leaving them weak. In some cases, they can even transmit diseases that further damage your plants. We don’t want that to happen to your beloved landscape, so it’s important to learn how to identify pests!
Recognizing Pests That Destroy Your Landscaping
The first step to ridding your landscape of pests is being able to identify them. These pests look different from each other and cause varying degrees of damage to your plants. Generally, if you see some insects on a plant, it’s best to check if there are more of them. Is the plant being eaten away? Are the leaves wilting? These are some things to consider when you look for signs of pests.
Here are some more common signs to look out for:
- Damaged leaves: Look out for holes, chewed edges, or discoloration.
- Stunted growth: Your plants may be weaker than usual and not grow as tall.
- Yellowing leaves: This is a common sign of nutrient deficiency, which pests may cause.
- Unusual leaf drop: If your plants are shedding more leaves than usual, it could be a sign of an infestation.
- Black or brown spots on leaves: These spots are usually fungal diseases that pests have transmitted.
- Honeydew: This is a sticky substance excreted by aphids and other sucking insects.
Once you’ve identified that your landscape has become home to some unwelcome visitors, it’s time to take action!
Lawn Care For Pest-free Landscapes
Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and a vast variety of other unwanted creatures love to hide in the lovely gardens of Philadelphia. We know how heartbreaking it is to see your dream landscape turned into a haven for pests, so EMC Lawncare is here to help.
We offer a wide range of services to get rid of pests and keep them away for good. Our outdoor mosquito control services near Philadelphia will create a barrier around your property to keep these nasty critters out. We also offer lawn care near Bucks County, PA that will make your house the envy of the block.
Our team of experts will inspect your landscape, identify any problems, and develop a customized plan. Don’t let pests ruin your landscape! Call EMC Lawncare today.