How To Release Ladybugs Into Your Garden (& Why You Should)
If you’ve got an aphid problem you’re looking to fix, you’ve probably read that ladybugs are the solution. Using these cute little beetles to combat tiny green pests is an …
Pest Control
Dealing with Colorado Potato Beetle: The Most Destructive Potato Pest
Growing your own potatoes is usually guaranteed to give you a plentiful harvest. However, there is one little thing that may get in the way of your harvesting plans – …
Spotting Leaf Miner Damage & How To Get Rid Of This Hungry Pest
I was making my morning inspection of my garden, coffee in hand when I noticed something on my spinach that made my heart skip a beat. There, on one of …
Trillions Of Brood X Cicadas Are Preparing To Emerge – Are You Ready?
It’s time, Rural Sprout Readers. They’re coming. Spring 2021. Who knows, they may already be in your neighborhood. Some sunny afternoon, you’ll walk outside expecting twittering birdsong, and instead, you’ll …
8 Natural Ways To Stop Slugs & Snails Destroying Your Plants
Operating under the cover of darkness, slugs and snails can do massive damage to garden plants in a very short period of time. Each evening, they leave their cool …
6 Ways To Repel Wasps Without Harming Them (& Why They Are So Great For Your Garden)
Wasps have earned a reputation for being the absolute jerks of the flying insect community. With menacing looks and an aggressive behavior that fears precisely no one, wasps are equipped …
Dealing with Tomato Hornworms Before They Destroy Your Tomato Plants
Hornworms are one of the most common tomato plant pests. If you have small children in your life, then you’ve probably read Eric Carle’s book, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” about …
12 Garden Bugs You Should Never Kill
For many of us, the sight of a creepy-crawly bug in our beautiful garden stirs an age-old instinct – SQUASH IT. But wait! Before you pulverize that little critter, take …
11 Ways To Keep Deer Out Of Your Garden (+ Dad’s Foolproof Solution)
Living right in the middle of Pennsylvania State Game Lands meant I would often enjoy my morning cup of coffee while watching a family of deer drinking water from the …
3 Organic Pesticides That Really Work (But Only As A Last Resort)
Gardening organically is often a process of trial and error. There are a range of pests that can become a problem, and organic pesticides are sometimes prescribed as a solution. …
4 Ways To Attract Bats To Your Yard (And Why You Should)
Often associated with vampires, witchcraft, and darkness, bats have gotten a pretty bad rap in our stories and lore. And yet, bats are a sure ally in the backyard, helping …
20 Common Tomato Pests and How To Deal With Them
Growing tomatoes in your garden can be a hugely rewarding experience. But inevitably, as you garden, you will encounter some problems. Often, the problems with tomato plants will be related …
14 Ways To Use Diatomaceous Earth In The Home And Garden
You’ve seen bags of it in the health food store and you have pinned images of the fine powder stating its health benefits on Pinterest, but have you gotten around …
7 Plants That Naturally Repel Pests and How To Use Them
We all could certainly do with less pests in our lives, especially the type that bite, sting, and raid your pantry. Getting rid of household pests is an age old …
How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats on Your Houseplants
Fungus gnats are small, dark, soil dwelling flies that feed on organic matter in potting mix and other growing media. Adult fungus gnats reach a size of only 1/16 of …
6 Ways to Prevent Rabbits from Gobbling Up Your Garden
Rabbits might be cute – with their huge ears, soft furry bodies, bunny hops, and wiggly noses – but that adorableness quickly fades once you see the damage they can …
9 Natural Ways To Repel Mosquitoes & 4 Methods That Really Don’t Work
Summer fun comes with refreshing moments of swimming in the pool, tanning safely under the sun and sitting out by the glowing embers of a campfire, toasting marshmallows, as you …