Protecting Tender Seedlings from Garden Pests – 4 Simple DIY Methods

Raising seeds and nurturing delicate seedlings is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening. But nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing your precious sprouts get devoured overnight by hungry critters and nasty bugs. Don’t let pests destroy all your hard work this season! Here are 4 easy DIY methods for protecting tender seedlings from the most common garden pests without using harsh chemicals.

Why Seedlings Need Protection

Young seedlings are extremely vulnerable to attack from all kinds of insects animals and diseases. Their tender stems and leaves are irresistible treats for slugs, snails, cutworms, earwigs, and other critters. Plus, they lack the structural strength and established root systems to withstand browsing damage from bigger pests like birds, squirrels, and rabbits.

Protecting seedlings is crucial for a few reasons:

• Prevents loss of plants, avoiding the need to re-seed or re-plant.

• Allows normal growth so plants establish faster and yield earlier.

• Reduces transmittal of diseases carried by pests like aphids and whiteflies.

• Avoids the need for pesticide sprays around food crops and wildlife.

The good news is there are many pest deterrents that are inexpensive, non-toxic, and easy to implement in your garden

4 DIY Methods for Protecting Seedlings

Here are 4 simple strategies for keeping pests away from your seedlings using common household items.

1. Use Plastic Bottle Cloches

Cloches are mini greenhouses that sit over individual plants, providing pest protection and a warmer microclimate that boosts growth. While fancy cloches can be purchased, it’s easy to make your own from recycled materials:

• Cut the bottom off a plastic 2-liter soda bottle, leaving 4-6 inches intact. Remove label.

• Place over newly planted seedlings, pushing bottle into soil 1-2 inches to keep stable.

• Leave on until seedlings are 3-4 inches tall and well established. Vent by loosening soil seal on hot days.

• For taller seedlings, use larger clear plastic jugs or place 2 cut bottles end-to-end.

Cloches shield plants from cold damage while obstructing pests from reaching them. Make sure to vent cloches regularly so plants don’t overheat inside.

2. Use Strawberry Baskets as Mini Hoop Houses

Those little plastic strawberry baskets you get at the grocery store make perfect mini hoop houses. Here’s how to use them:

• Plant seeds or seedlings in a properly prepared garden bed.

• Gently place basket over each plant or small group of plants.

• Push about 1 inch of basket into soil to stabilize.

• Keep vented on hot days. Remove once seedlings have several true leaves.

The arch of the basket protects the interior from rain, wind, frost, birds, insects, and animals. As seedlings grow taller, stack baskets or upgrade to larger berry containers.

3. Make Toothpick Fences

Stop crawling pests like slugs, snails, and cutworms by encircling plants with a protective “fence” of toothpicks:

• Push 4-6 toothpicks halfway into soil around seedling in a circle about 1 inch away.

• Angle the toothpicks in or out slightly so they form a barred cage.

• Make sure cage allows emerging leaves to expand freely upward.

The spikes bother the soft bodies of slugs/snails, making it harder for them to reach the plants. Just be sure to remove the toothpicks once plants are bigger.

4. Use Row Covers or Garden Fabric

Lightweight row covers and garden fabric offer protection from wind, frost, insects, birds, and animals seeking tasty greens. They allow air, light, and water through while keeping pests away.

• Cover seed beds after planting with fabric anchored by stones, boards, or garden pins.

• For larger plants, make hoops with bent wire or branches and drape fabric over.

• Once plants are established, leave uncovered or vent by lifting during the day.

Some good row cover options are Reemay, Agribon, and Harvest Guard. Make sure fabric lets in at least 85% sunlight to avoid stunting growth.

Other Ways to Protect Seedlings from Pests

In addition to physical barriers, there are some other strategies that can help deter pests from devouring seedlings:

• Practice crop rotation – Don’t plant in the same spot as last year to avoid pest concentrations.

• Apply organic slug bait like iron phosphate for safe control.

• Handpick pests and eggs daily to stop populations from exploding.

• Use food grade diatomaceous earth as an abrasive barrier to repel crawling insects.

• Attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings to feed on pest larvae.

• Spray plants with neem oil or insecticidal soap for safe bug control.

• Use floating row covers on pools/ponds to keep birds away from water seedlings.

Give Your Seedlings a Head Start

A little effort at protecting tender seedlings now goes a long way toward saving heartache down the road. Whether you opt for plastic bottles, strawberry baskets, row covers, or other pest barriers, you’ll be rewarded with vigorous, healthy plants ready to thrive in your garden.