Written by: Kaiton Quan
Edited by: Avah Manu
Designed by: Serena Sclippa
Published by: Andrew Jackson
There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your garden thrive. Lush leaves, green grass, and crops that can be harvested. But just as you’re admiring the view, the insects invade, and maybe a few spots on your tomato leaves have been eaten through. But don’t worry, every gardener, beginner to veteran, runs into pests occasionally. The key to fixing this issue is knowing what you’re dealing with and how to handle it. Here’s your go-to guide for identifying common garden pests and diseases, and most importantly, what to do about them.
Basic Pest Info
APHIDS
- What they look like: Tiny, pear shaped insects. They can be green, black, red or white.
- The damage they cause: Aphids suck the sap out of plants, causing curled leaves, stunted growth, and a substance called honeydew that attracts ants and mold.
- What you can do: Spray plants with a long stream of water to wash them off, introduce better insects that can help such as ladybugs.
TOMATO HORNWORMS
- What they look like: Large, green caterpillars wit
h white stripes and a horn-like tail.
- The damage: Can strip a tomato plant bare by chewing through leaves, stems, and fruit.
- What you can do: Handpick them early morning or at evening, or attract their natural predator.
SLUGS AND SNAILS
- What they look like: Slimy, soft creatures that come out at night.
- The damage they cause: Holes in leaves, especially on tender seedlings.
- What you can do: Set traps in the garden to lure them, or water in the morning so that the soil is dry by midnight.
TOMATO BLIGHT
- What it looks like: dark spots on leaves, stems, and fruits. Mostly common in tomatoes and potatoes.
- The damage they cause: Can spread rapidly in wet conditions and ruin crops
- What you can do: rotate crops every year and avoid overhead watering, remove and destroy affected plants
SPIDER MITES
- What they look like: small white bugs under leaves, can also turn into a yellowy color.
- The damage they cause: webbing the plants in a thin spider web, leaves looking yellow or pale.
- What you can do: spray with water toincrease humidity, apply miticide, and isolate infected plants.
ROOT ROT
- What it looks like: yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and mushy roots.
- What you can do: ensure proper drainage, don’t overwater, and remove infected plants quickly.
Always remember, prevention is the best medicine! You can’t prevent every pest or disease, but a healthy garden is your best defense. Here are some tips that can help you:
- Water at the base, not just the leaves, also water early in the day
- Space your plants to improve airflow and to prevent humidity buildup
- Keep your garden free of fallen leaves, weeds, and debris
- Use clean tools and composted mulch
- Regularly inspect your plants. An early detection can save the day!
Final Thoughts: Every garden has its battles, but don’t let annoying pests and diseases ruin your day. With a little observation, early action, and a few remedies, you can keep your plants happy and healthy. Gardening is a learning experience, and a challenge that can be fun in the end.
Works Cited
- Boeckmann, Catherine. “How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails in the Garden.” Farmer’s Almanac, 29 May 2025, https://www.almanac.com/pest/slugs-and-snails. Accessed 10 June 2025.
- Boeckmann, Catherine. “How to Identify and Get Rid of Aphids on Plants.” Farmer’s Almanac, 14 May 2025, https://www.almanac.com/pest/aphids. Accessed 10 June 2025.
- Boeckmann, Catherine. “Tomato Hornworms: How to Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms | The Old Farmer’s Almanac.” Farmer’s Almanac, 22 April 2025, https://www.almanac.com/pest/tomato-hornworms. Accessed 10 June 2025.
- “How to Get Rid of Spider Mites Effectively (Complete Guide).” Planet Natural, 16 March 2023, https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/spider-mite-control/. Accessed 10 June 2025.
- “Root Rot – Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Control.” Elite Tree Care, https://www.elitetreecare.com/library/tree-diseases/root-rot/. Accessed 10 June 2025.
- Schuh, Marissa, et al. “Early blight in tomato and potato | UMN Extension.” University of Minnesota Extension, https://extension.umn.edu/disease-management/early-blight-tomato-and-potato. Accessed 10 June 2025.