How to manage pests in a raised garden bed, safely

Every veggie patch gets a few visitors. The good news is that most pests can be sorted without harsh chemicals, especially in a raised bed where you can keep a close eye on things. Here is our simple, safe-first approach.

First, work out what you are dealing with. The common ones in South East Queensland are aphids, caterpillars, slugs and snails, thrips and whiteflies. We have a plain guide to each to help you tell them apart.

Then work through these steps in order. Most problems are solved well before the last one.

1. Keep your plants healthy. Strong plants shrug off pests. Use a good premium potting mix, water consistently, and do not crowd your plants. Not sure what to plant right now? Our free planting calendar shows what suits your postcode this month, and healthy, well-timed plants are your best pest defence.
2. Bring in the good guys. Ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies eat aphids and other soft pests for you. Plant a few flowers among your veggies to attract them, as we explain in our companion planting guide.
3. Put up a barrier. Fine insect netting keeps moths, whiteflies and possums off without a drop of spray.
4. Pick them off or trap them. For small outbreaks, squashing pests by hand or setting simple traps is quick and effective.
5. Only if you still need to, reach for a garden-safe treatment. Insecticidal soap, neem oil and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) handle most insects, and iron phosphate pellets are a pet-safe choice for snails.

We do not recommend harsh synthetic sprays such as organophosphates, neonicotinoids or pyrethroids in a food garden. They can harm bees, pets and the helpful insects doing your pest control, and you are growing food you plan to eat. If you would like to understand them, we explain each one honestly, but our advice is to stick with the safer options above.

A raised bed makes all of this easier. Snails have further to travel, you are not bending down to inspect leaves, and netting is simple to fit.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Ferran Pestaña, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.