Leafminers are tiny larvae that tunnel through the leaves of plants, leaving visible trails. The serpentine lines in the leaves may seem like a cause for concern, in most cases, leafminers do not cause significant harm to the plant's overall health.

As a gardener, it's critical to understand that the use of chemical sprays to control leafminers can be harmful to beneficial insects such as bees, ladybugs, and butterflies. In addition, these sprays can often leave behind harmful residues that can persist in the environment.

It's important to keep in mind that even popular organic treatments can harm beneficial insects, which are necessary for a healthy and sustainable garden. Sticky traps, for example, can capture not just the adult flies that cause the infestation but also beneficial insects. Neem oil, while a popular natural insecticide, may also harm beneficial insects if overused. Additionally, the oil may not be able to penetrate deep enough to kill the larvae, which are protected within the leaves.

CRUSH OR REMOVE

There are more sustainable, simple steps gardeners can take to control leafminers naturally. One effective method that gardeners can use to control leafminers is to crush the squiggly lines early on, before the larvae have a chance to mature and continue the cycle by laying more eggs. In bad cases, it’s recommended to manually remove any affected leaves and dispose of them. By using either, or both of these methods, gardeners can prevent the larvae from causing further damage to the plant and reduce the overall population of leafminers in their garden. 

ROW COVERS/NETTING

One idea is using physical barriers, such as row covers or netting, to help keep leafminers away from your plants. It's important to note that they can also block pollinators from reaching your plants. If you're using row covers or netting, you may need to remove them periodically to allow pollinators like bees to access your plants. Alternatively, you can choose to hand-pollinate your plants to ensure they produce fruit.

TRUST THE NATURAL SYSTEM

As a gardener, you have the option to let nature take its course and allow natural predators to control the leafminer populations, or take a few simple steps to control them naturally. Ultimately, taking a more relaxed approach to leafminers will allow you to focus on more important things in your garden, such as enjoying your beautiful plants and the other wildlife that call your garden home.

SOIL BUILDING - How Healthy Soil Can Protect Your Plants from Pests & Diseases

Of course, in order for plants to reach their genetic potential, they need adequate water, nutrients, and sunlight, in addition to healthy soil. Building healthy soil is crucial to the overall health and vitality of your plants. When plants are grown in healthy, nutrient-rich soil, they are better able to resist pests and disease and reach their genetic potential.

Healthy soil is rich in organic matter, which helps to improve soil structure and fertility, and provides essential nutrients to plants. Adding compost, mulch, and other organic matter to your soil can help to build a healthy, living soil ecosystem that supports the growth of strong, healthy plants.

In addition, using natural fertilizers and avoiding synthetic chemicals can help to maintain a healthy soil ecosystem and promote plant health. Synthetic fertilizers can create imbalances in soil nutrient levels, leading to nutrient deficiencies in plants and reducing their ability to resist pests and disease.

When plants reach their genetic potential, they are more resistant to pests and disease and better able to tolerate environmental stresses such as drought and extreme temperatures. By focusing on soil building and promoting the overall health of your plants, your garden will require less intervention from you as a gardener.

In summary, plant health starts with healthy soil. By building a healthy, living soil ecosystem and promoting the overall health and vitality of your plants, you can create a garden environment that is naturally resistant to pests and disease, and allows your plants to reach their genetic potential. So, invest some time and effort into building healthy soil, and let nature do the rest! For more on soil building check out the video series below.

Live regeneratively, and let's grow together!