Landscaping Blog Carnival: How to Control Aphids, Ants and Beetles

Plants and bugs -- they pretty much go hand in hand, much to the dismay of many beginning gardeners.

Some bugs, though, are beneficial. Bees, for instance, pollinate our plants; they're considered problematic only if you're allergic to bee stings. Meanwhile, other bugs are beneficial in the sense that they prey upon the bugs that damage our plants. Then there are the butterflies, which, despite their humble beginnings as caterpillars, we place in a category by themselves in the bug world. We may even strive to lure these beauties onto our properties by planting the plants they like, so much do we enjoy the sight of their colorful wings.

But what about dealing with the bugs who damage our plants or make a nuisance of themselves? Well, in surfing around the About.com network, I found plenty of information on this subject, including how to control aphids, ants and beetles.

For instance, Colleen Vanderlinden, About's Guide to Organic Gardening, has written a piece about those sap-sucking bugs, the aphids. "Drinking the sap can weaken the plant, and injecting their saliva can spread diseases from plant to plant," reports Colleen. Find out how to control aphids by reading her article.

Ants typically fall more into the category of "nuisance bugs" than anything else. But if you wish to get rid of ants, Amy Jeanroy, About's Guide to Herb Gardens, has the answers in this ant control article. Amy notes that ants will often be found under container gardens (popular with herb growers) because the "cool, moist ground under the pots is a perfect place for a colony to live."

Beetles can be a much more serious problem, because some attack plants in which we have quite a bit invested: namely, trees and shrubs. "They bore into the plant, destroying the nutrient transport system and weakening the overall health, " states Vanessa Richins, About's Guide to Trees and Shrubs. Learn about beetle control before it's too late and you end up losing a prized specimen.

Make no mistake about it: Pest control is a never-ending project. Besides the tips mentioned in the resources above, techniques such as companion planting offer additional weapons for your arsenal. But ultimately, there are no silver bullets; the hallmark of effective pest control is eternal vigilance.