{"id":14912,"date":"2025-07-12T16:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T20:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/?p=14912"},"modified":"2025-07-13T18:30:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T22:30:32","slug":"battling-common-garden-pests-and-diseases-how-to-deal-with-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/battling-common-garden-pests-and-diseases-how-to-deal-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Battling common garden pests and diseases: How to deal with it"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Written by: Kaiton Quan<br \/>\nEdited by: Avah Manu<br \/>\nDesigned by: Serena Sclippa<br \/>\nPublished by: Andrew Jackson<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">T<\/span>here&#8217;s nothing more satisfying than seeing your garden thrive. Lush leaves, green grass, and\u00a0 crops that can be harvested. But just as you&#8217;re admiring the view, the insects invade, and maybe a few spots on your tomato leaves have been eaten through. But don&#8217;t worry, every gardener, beginner to veteran, runs into pests occasionally. The key to fixing this issue is knowing what you&#8217;re dealing with and how to handle it. Here&#8217;s your go-to guide for identifying common garden pests and diseases, and most importantly, what to do about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Basic Pest Info<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14913 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-1-300x113.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-1-300x113.png 300w, https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-1.png 365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">APHIDS<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What they look like:<\/strong> Tiny, pear shaped insects. They can be green, black, red or white.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The damage they cause:<\/strong> Aphids suck the sap out of plants, causing curled leaves, stunted growth, and a substance called honeydew that attracts ants and mold.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What you can do:<\/strong> Spray plants with a long stream of water to wash them off, introduce better insects that can help such as ladybugs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14914 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-1-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"255\" height=\"197\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TOMATO HORNWORMS<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What they look like:<\/strong> Large, green caterpillars wit<img class=\"gkA7Yd-HiaYvf HiaYvf-Vj7tjb\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/keep.google.com\/u\/0\/media\/v2\/1RLS3QZ-oilYYXaJ32q_UkVGglgzGAbXU3H1R1YuXKNrHTSIzzcni7Lo3FbdS_Q\/1a_-VMHadDHCm5ylcnm5ReCy8qhws7KKbuQptAwesOemghRGeiCOTMJcO-kzCtck?accept=image%2Fgif%2Cimage%2Fjpeg%2Cimage%2Fjpg%2Cimage%2Fpng%2Caudio%2Faac&amp;sz=365\" alt=\"\" \/>h white stripes and a horn-like tail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The damage<\/strong>: Can strip a tomato plant bare by chewing through leaves, stems, and fruit.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What you can do:<\/strong> Handpick them early morning or at evening, or attract their natural predator.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14916 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SLUGS AND SNAILS<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What they look like:<\/strong> Slimy, soft creatures that come out at night.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The damage they cause:<\/strong> Holes in leaves, especially on tender seedlings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What you can do:<\/strong> Set traps in the garden to lure them, or water in the morning so that the soil is dry by midnight.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14917 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"275\" height=\"183\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TOMATO BLIGHT<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> dark spots on leaves, stems, and fruits. Mostly common in tomatoes and potatoes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The damage they cause:<\/strong> Can spread rapidly in wet conditions and ruin crops<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What you can do:<\/strong> rotate crops every year and avoid overhead watering, remove and destroy affected plants<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14915 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-5-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-5-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-5-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-5.png 508w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SPIDER MITES<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What they look like:<\/strong> small white bugs under leaves, can also turn into a yellowy color.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The damage they cause:<\/strong> webbing the plants in a thin spider web, leaves looking yellow or pale.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What you can do:<\/strong> spray with water toincrease humidity, apply miticide, and isolate infected plants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-14918 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/unnamed-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"284\" height=\"177\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OOT ROT<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What it looks like:<\/strong> yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and mushy roots.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>What you can do:<\/strong> ensure proper drainage, don&#8217;t overwater, and remove infected plants quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always remember, prevention is the best medicine! <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can&#8217;t prevent every pest or disease, but a healthy garden is your best defense. Here are some tips that can help you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water at the base, not just the leaves, also water early in the day<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Space your plants to improve airflow and to prevent humidity buildup<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your garden free of fallen leaves, weeds, and debris<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use clean tools and composted mulch<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regularly inspect your plants. An early detection can save the day!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Final Thoughts:<\/strong> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every garden has its battles, but don&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Works Cited<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boeckmann, Catherine. \u201cHow to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails in the Garden.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmer&#8217;s Almanac<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 29 May 2025, https:\/\/www.almanac.com\/pest\/slugs-and-snails. Accessed 10 June 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boeckmann, Catherine. \u201cHow to Identify and Get Rid of Aphids on Plants.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmer&#8217;s Almanac<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 14 May 2025, https:\/\/www.almanac.com\/pest\/aphids. Accessed 10 June 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boeckmann, Catherine. \u201cTomato Hornworms: How to Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms | The Old Farmer&#8217;s Almanac.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmer&#8217;s Almanac<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 22 April 2025, https:\/\/www.almanac.com\/pest\/tomato-hornworms. Accessed 10 June 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHow to Get Rid of Spider Mites Effectively (Complete Guide).\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planet Natural<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 16 March 2023, https:\/\/www.planetnatural.com\/pest-problem-solver\/houseplant-pests\/spider-mite-control\/. Accessed 10 June 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRoot Rot \u2013 Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Control.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elite Tree Care<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, https:\/\/www.elitetreecare.com\/library\/tree-diseases\/root-rot\/. Accessed 10 June 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schuh, Marissa, et al. \u201cEarly blight in tomato and potato | UMN Extension.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">University of Minnesota Extension<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/disease-management\/early-blight-tomato-and-potato. Accessed 10 June 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s nothing more satisfying than seeing your garden thrive. Lush leaves, green grass, and\u00a0 crops that can be harvested. But just as you&#8217;re admiring the view, the insects invade, and maybe a few spots on your tomato leaves have been eaten through. But don&#8217;t worry, every gardener, beginner to veteran, runs into pests occasionally. The key to fixing this issue is knowing what you&#8217;re dealing with and how to handle it. Here&#8217;s your go-to guide for identifying common garden pests and diseases, and most importantly, what to do about them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14919,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[25,27,24],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14912"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14912"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14922,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14912\/revisions\/14922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}