Common Garden Pests

• Of the hundreds of bugs in a garden, you're more likely to face some than others. Aphids are the most common, and their tiny pear-shaped bodies can be many different colors. Because aphids feed in a colony, and prefer the bottom of leaves, they shouldn't be too hard to spot. When leaves are curled and deformed, they've probably been damaged by aphids.
  
  Tomato hornworms are large green caterpillars that measure up to 4 inches. You can easily identify them by finding the prominent horn on their rear. During the day, they feed inside your plants, but they move to the outside as the sun goes down. They can quickly defoliate a plant and leave many large holes in the fruit.
  
  Slugs are one of the worst garden pests. They wait until dark to run amok and feed on your succulent plants. If you find smooth and irregular holes in your leaves, slugs have left their calling card. They also leave holes in your fruit and silvery trails of dried mucous. Because decaying leaves are their primary diet, make sure you dispose of the leaves regularly.
  
  

Beneficial Insects and Plants

• Ladybugs and praying mantises are a gardener's best friend. At less than $5 a quart, you can fill an average garden with ladybugs. Esvery adult ladybug eats 40 to 50 aphids a day, so you shouldn't have a garden without them.
  
  Praying mantises can hatch up to 400 young, so you don't need too many to make a big difference. They'll gladly eat every insect they catch.
  
  You can also attract predator insects by growing small blossomed plants like sweet alyssum and dill. These insects feed on the flower's nectar when they aren't busy attacking your pests.
  
  

Natural Insecticide Recipes

• The most effective hornworm insecticides are commercial bacteria sprays. The Bacillus thuringiensis in these sprays releases toxins in the pests' stomachs that cause them to starve. If you dust your plants with this product, keep in mind that it kills beneficial insects as well.
  
  Dormant oil will eliminate aphids and mites. Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable oil, then gradually add a gallon of water while stirring. To suffocate the insects, spray this solution on every part of your plants.
  
  You can make an all-purpose insecticide, by combining strong-smelling roots and spices, with liquid soap and water. Put any combination of garlic, onions, horseradish, ginger, rhubarb leaves, cayenne and hot peppers in a glass jar, and add boiling water. Let the spices and roots soak overnight, before straining the water and combining it with 2 tablespoons of liquid soap and a quart of regular water. When you spray this solution on your plants, it will repel some pests and kill others through dehydration.