Unwelcome Guests: How to Spot Garden Pests & Plant Diseases Before They Wreck Your Harvest

Be real—gardening is special work. It is peaceful, powerful, and yes, sometimes petty (especially when a squirrel snatches your tomatoes). When garden pests show up uninvited, they can turn your peaceful area into a battlefield. Trust me- I know. Knowing how to identify, manage, and naturally repel garden pests is essential to protecting your hard-earned harvest.

Whether you’re growing tomatoes on a patio or collard greens in raised beds, here’s how to keep your garden friends close—and those pesky pests far away.

What Are Garden Pests?

Garden pests are insects, rodents, or animals that damage or destroy your veggie babies. They eat your produce, lay eggs on leaves, dig up roots, and generally create chaos. The most common types include:

• Insects: Aphids, caterpillars, beetles, whiteflies
• Rodents: Mice, rats, squirrels, possum
• Animals: Rabbits, deer, raccoons, groundhogs

Recognizing the signs early is the first step in garden pest control.

Signs You Have Garden Pests

Here are some of the most common clues that pests are partying in your garden:

• Chewed leaves or fruit
• Holes in stems or foliage
• Yellowing or curling leaves
• Sticky residue (from aphids or whiteflies)
• Droppings or dug-up soil

In my gardening book, Harvesting Joy, I talk about the importance of monitoring your garden on a regular basis. Sure it’s nice to walk around and see growth, but it’s also a great time to walk around and check the leaves and detect any abnormalities.

Gardening isn’t all “fun and games.” It would be wonderful to garden and not have any issues at all but the truth is that’s not really reality. Sometimes (read: a lot of times) you have to deal with more than just fertilizing, you can have bugs.

Natural Repellents for Garden Pests

Garden pests can wipe out your entire harvest in just a few days if you don’t stay on top of them. One of the things I’ve spoken about and maybe not in detail is that I’ve learned that Neem Oil is not only a treatment but it can also be used as prevention. You can liberally spray neem oil on the roots and leaves of your garden. It’s not a pesticide and does NOT affect bees (that’s the best part).

I talk about the natural repellents you can use for “bad” bugs. But what about animals?!

Animal Pests in the Garden

Animal pests in the garden are such a tough game to win. Over the years, I’ve been tormented by squirrels, raccoon and stay animals. And I live in the city of Chicago. My friends out in the other areas have battled deer; rabbit and whatever else lives in the forest.

It’s maddening. Here’s the deal with certain pests you can get rid of them- but with animals it’s a game of prevention.

Natural Ways to Repel Animal Pests:

• Motion-activated sprinklers: Startle larger animals without harming them
• Scent-based repellents: Try garlic sprays, predator urine (available at garden stores), or strong-smelling herbs like mint or lavender
• Physical barriers: Install fencing (at least 2 feet high) or cover raised beds with netting or mesh
• Reflective materials: Use CDs, aluminum foil strips, or reflective tape to deter animals
• Or have a dog like mine that chases it out of the yard.

Every gardener deals with pests—you are not alone. The key is to stay vigilant, stay natural when possible, and never let a beetle or possum steal your gardening peace. With these natural repellents and pest control tips, your garden will be thriving in no time.

On an episode of Gardening with Friends we chatted with Sheila. She (and her girls) have been gardening for a few years and learned all about the tomato hornworm and the damage it can do. I’m so thankful that we were able to see this in real time and hopefully this can be something that you can learn about (and prevent) in your own garden.

To learn more about Pest Prevention (bugs and animals) get my copy of Harvesting Joy, A Beginner Gardening Guide!