bugs and more bugs

[heather smith]

I have 4 raised beds outside in my yard this year for vegetables. This is my first year growing in North Carolina or in raised beds. I am used to doing it in ground back in Massachusetts. But I laid down some weed block and cardboard underneath and then filled up my soil mixture, etc and went to planting. There is some excess of the weed block around all 4 sides of each bed. Today I noticed that there are tons of black and red ants. Also some frogs jumped out from underneath the excess weed block. There seem to be little tiny snail looking things, maybe also some grubs. Who knows how much little bugs are there, but what should I do? Cut off the excess? How do I get rid of all these insects? Do you think they are going up through the soil underneath my plants too? Ugh insects are yuck right?

 

[heather smith]

These are the snails

 

[so lucky]

I think if it were mine, I would cut the weed barrier to the edge of the bed. Lawn maintenance will be easier that way. The little snails are probably there because of the moisture and shade. I doubt they will bother your plants much, but you can always sprinkle crushed egg shells all around the plants, to repel the snails. They look like the little periwinkles that invade aquariums. They, or their eggs, can live for years in a dormant stage, then regenerate when moisture is present. At least that has been my experience with aquariums.
The ants and frogs won't harm your plants.

 

[heather smith]

Thank you so much!

 

[Nyboy]

Frogs are great for garden, they are bug eating machines .

 

[journey11]

I'd cut it off, but make sure you have a few rocks or something nearby to provide a cool, shady spot for the toads to take shelter in because they will work on removing your bugs for you. DD7 grew out about a dozen tadpoles into toads last year and we turned them loose in the garden. Have not seen a slug since and we used to be plagued with them.

 

[journey11]

I'd cut it off, but make sure you have a few rocks or something nearby to provide a cool, shady spot for the toads to take shelter in because they will work on removing your bugs for you. DD7 grew out about a dozen tadpoles into toads last year and we turned them loose in the garden. Have not seen a slug since and we used to be plagued with them.

 

[curly_kate]

Ditto on encouraging the frogs! They are a great addition to a garden!

 

[frontiergirl53]

I actually make frog and lizard homes in my garden, they are great! I saw a huge lizard the other day... I freaked out it was so huge!

 

[journey11]

I save broken ceramic or terracotta planters to put in my flower beds for toad homes. Just turn them over and stick back under a hosta or some other plant for shade. If I had more time, I'd like to give them some decorative bling or make them into fairy houses. That would be fun.