Dealing with garden-damaging pests in Cameron Park, CA, requires a combination of prevention, natural solutions, and targeted treatments. The region’s warm climate attracts a variety of pests, including aphids, caterpillars, gophers, and beetles. Here’s how to protect your garden:

1. Common Garden Pests & DIY Control Methods

🐛 Aphids (Plant-Sucking Insects)

🔹 Signs: Clusters of tiny green, black, or white insects on plant stems and leaves. Leaves may curl or yellow.
🔹 Solutions:
✔️ Spray plants with a mix of water + dish soap (1 tsp per quart of water).
✔️ Release ladybugs or lacewings (natural predators).
✔️ Use neem oil as an organic pesticide.

🐛 Caterpillars & Hornworms (Leaf Eaters)

🔹 Signs: Holes in leaves, especially on tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli.
🔹 Solutions:
✔️ Handpick and remove caterpillars early in the morning.
✔️ Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on plant leaves to deter them.
✔️ Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a natural bacteria that kills caterpillars.

🐀 Gophers & Moles (Root & Lawn Destroyers)

🔹 Signs: Mounds of loose soil, damaged plant roots, or sudden plant wilting.
🔹 Solutions:
✔️ Use castor oil-based gopher repellents.
✔️ Plant gopher-resistant plants like daffodils and marigolds.
✔️ Install underground wire mesh barriers around garden beds.

🐜 Ants (Attract Aphids & Damage Roots)

🔹 Signs: Ant trails leading to plants, disturbed soil near roots.
🔹 Solutions:
✔️ Use a mix of borax + sugar to bait and kill ant colonies.
✔️ Sprinkle cinnamon or coffee grounds around garden beds.
✔️ Apply diatomaceous earth around plant bases.

🐞 Beetles (Foliage & Fruit Feeders)

🔹 Signs: Irregular holes in leaves, chewed fruits, or skeletonized leaves.
🔹 Solutions:
✔️ Handpick beetles early in the morning.
✔️ Use floating row covers to protect plants.
✔️ Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap.

2. Organic Pest Prevention Tips

✅ Companion Planting: Grow basil near tomatoes to repel hornworms. Plant marigolds to deter aphids.
✅ Mulching: Use organic mulch to prevent soil-dwelling pests and retain moisture.
✅ Crop Rotation: Rotate crops yearly to prevent soil-borne pest buildup.
✅ Encourage Beneficial Insects: Ladybugs, praying mantises, and birds help keep pest populations low.
✅ Physical Barriers: Use row covers, netting, and copper tape (for slugs/snails).

3. When to Seek Us

• If pests severely damage your plants despite DIY efforts.

• If you notice large infestations that spread quickly.

• If gophers/moles cause significant landscape damage.