It’s crucial that your garden gets some air circulation from a good breeze on a regular basis. Tightly packed plants are very inviting to feeding insects that enjoy both the shelter from the heat and the cover from predators. They will raise their families in there and eat their way out. So if you must plant closely, you will need to monitor for pests more frequently. Secondly, the leaves will have time to dry off before evening. Damp plants, especially if you also have the tendency to plant things close and densely, are ideal hangouts for many garden pests, like slugs, snails, and earwigs. And it’s better to water deeply once or twice a week than to only wet the surface of the soil, and the leaves, on a regular basis. Annual plants may need even more water since they tend to have a more shallow root system. As for unaccommodating rain, a little is always welcome. A lot can cause trouble. You’ll just have to keep an eye on things and wait until the garden dries out. Birds get a bad rap in the garden. They do eat and nibble the fruits, but they also chow down on their share of insects, which are excellent sources of protein. You don’t usually have to go out of your way to attract birds to your vegetable garden, as long as they are already in your yard. If they aren’t you’ll need to plant more food sources for them and provide some trees and shrubs for shelter. They don’t like feeding in the open, without a nearby place to hide from predators. And just like their amphibian co-workers, they appreciate a source of fresh water. It doesn’t take much to attract beneficial insects. The trick is trying to keep them around when all the pests have been eaten. But beneficial insects need pollen and nectar, as much as the protein from other insects, so having the plants that they favor will keep them periodically checking in, if not permanently moving in. An easy way to accomplish this is to allow some herbs, lettuce, and cole plants to go to flower. Be sure to clean up any fruits that have fallen. If your zucchini or beans have grown to an embarrassing size, harvest the over-sized fruits and then give the plant some extra water, a light feeding, and then give it time to recoup. In the meantime, be on the alert for any opportunistic pest who might try to make their move.
