While you are enjoying the first thawed patches, those who will eat your harvest before you are already moving in the soil.
The cockchafer larvae, which overwintered at a depth of 50 cm, will rise to the roots of strawberries and apple trees.
To stop them, spread clover between the rows - its roots secrete substances that deprive the larvae of their appetite.
Another March nightmare is cruciferous flea beetles. They attack radishes and cabbage, leaving holes in the leaves. Sprinkle the seedlings with tobacco dust or ash - the pests will disappear in a day.
But the main threat is the spider mite. It wakes up at +5°C and settles on greenhouse plants. Spray the seedlings with an infusion of onion peel: pour 200 g of boiling water, leave for a day and treat the leaves.
And if you notice ants running along tree trunks, lubricate the bark with tar soap.
Ants carry aphids, so this step will save you from two problems at once. In a month, your site will become a fortress that pests will bypass.
Almost immediately after the snow melts, slugs will crawl out of their hiding places. Place boards or damp rags between the beds - during the day, the pests will hide under them, and you can collect them by hand.
And to prevent wireworms, bury pieces of potatoes in the ground - the larvae will gather on the bait and they will be easy to destroy.
Don't forget about moles: their passages destroy the roots.
Stick metal rods into the ground and hang tin cans on them - the vibration will scare away the diggers.
This is interesting: the smell of mint disorients the mole cricket. Plant it around the perimeter of the garden, and the pest will go to the neighbors. In a season, you will forget what it is to fight for the harvest.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya