We understand that the plants which comprise your landscape are valuable to you. If you’re like many homeowners in Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA, you likely have hundreds if not thousands of dollars represented in the plants found around your property.

For that reason, you want to know how to protect plants from pests and diseases.

The unfortunate truth is that all plants in the residential landscape are subject to possible problems. But there are some steps you can take to protect your beloved landscape. 

Here are a few tips to protect plants from bugs and diseases.

How to Protect Plants from Insects and Diseases

Ensuring that your plants do not fall victim to a pest or disease problem boils down to a mix of cultural recommendations and professional help. The following tips will help set you up for success.

#1: Ensure You are Watering Properly

Most homeowners understand how important water is to the health of their plants. But what they don’t always realize is that proper watering is essential when it comes to how to protect plants from diseases.

More specifically, you want to avoid overwatering your plants.

It’s obvious that drought stress is not good for plants and that all living things need water to survive. 

But people don’t always realize that there can be “too much of a good thing.” 

Overwatering your plants to the point where the soil is soggy can actually cause soil-borne diseases within your plant beds (like root rot). 

Homeowners also don’t always understand the proper way to water plants. There is no reason to water the leaves of your plants. This can actually aggravate certain diseases. 

Instead, aim to water plants at their roots, where the water is actually needed.

A soaker hose can be an effective tool when it comes to properly watering plant beds. Soaker hoses release water slowly. But you could also use a regular hose on a lower setting so that you aren’t blasting away your mulch or soil.

An irrigation system can also be a solution to effectively water plants. But it’s critical that the system is calibrated properly to water the appropriate amount (based on the season and the conditions). The watering schedule should be reviewed on a regular basis so that changes can be made as needed.

#2: Keep Plant Beds Tidy

To protect plants from bugs, it can also help to keep your plant beds neat and tidy. That’s because excess overgrowth and invasive weeds can make excellent hiding spots for bugs. 

Making an effort to keep up with regular weeding will not only make your plant beds look better, but it might have the added benefit of giving pests fewer places to hide out and attack your plants. 

This is important as pests hanging out in your foundational plant beds are also more likely to make their way into your home.

Of course, even a neat plant bed can be subject to some pests. But when the beds are tidier, and overgrowth is trimmed back, it can also be easier to spot pests and deal with them accordingly.

#3: Invest in Professional Landscape Maintenance 

Proper watering and weeding are two really critical steps that can help you protect your plants. But even when you do everything right, there are still invasive pests and diseases that can creep into your plant beds. 

This is why Plant Health Care services are also so valuable. 

A professional technician will know which bugs and diseases commonly occur in the species that you have planted on your property. This knowledge, coupled with a thorough assessment of your landscape, will be valuable in developing a program for your property.

At Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape, our Plant Health Care services in Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA include seven rounds of treatment that control insects and disease while also providing your plants with the vital nutrients they need for optimal health. 

This will result in more profuse blooms, greener plants, and foliage that is much lusher, as well. While you can feel good that your plants are protected from disease and pest problems, you’ll gain the added benefit of better-looking plants, too. 

In the end, it’s a win all around.

Gain Peace of Mind that Your Plants are Protected

The idea of losing plants to pests or diseases can be stressful. Fortunately, you can hand those worries over to a professional who is ready to get an action plan in place.

While not all diseases and pests can be prevented, with the right treatment plan in place, problems can often be addressed before they become serious. 

The fact is, there are many different diseases and pests out there and a pro can help confirm what you might be dealing with. Think of it as an investment in protecting your landscape. 

After all, when you can prevent problems (or at least prevent them from getting serious), you are saving yourself a lot of time, money, and aggravation. 

All of that really does add up to peace of mind.

Your property is going to continue to look and perform its best for years to come—and you’ll be proud to show it off!

If you’re ready to hand over your tree concerns to a professional who will guide you on the path to a healthy landscape, request a maintenance quote or request a landscape consultation, and relax as you get the royal treatment.