Companion Planting Offers Garden Pest Control
A Natural Method for Controlling Plant Pests and Diseases
Aug 26, 2009
The process of placing herbs in close to proximity to other plants for “companion planting” creates an environment that utilizes the natural interaction of the selected plants. When deciding what to plant, herbs are a good choice for companions and handy to have around for cooking. Many herbs act as a natural repellent to a garden pest and prevent harm to surrounding plants. This simple aspect of partnering plants with herbs creates a more balanced ecosystem that is inviting for beneficial insects and unacceptable or unsurvivable for harmful pests.
Herbs also attract pollen-carrying insects for increased flowering of fruit trees and vegetables when inter-planted. Some herbs also have roots, stems, and leaves that are toxic to annoying pests and animals. Still other herbs improve the taste and hardiness of garden vegetables, while growing and later when added to food.
Often the dried herbs can also be ground or blended into a natural insecticide dust that can be sprinkled on flowerbeds. Repellent Teas can be made for other safe and natural approaches to pest repelling by pour on the soil and plants.
Pest Repelling Herbs
Basil - Many gardens are planted with basil to provide a supply of this fresh multi-use herb, but basil also can repel flies and mosquitoes. This is a solid annual choice for use in fighting tomato horn worms and a great companion for peppers too.
Bay Leaf - Fresh bay leaves create a positive impact in more than a favorite recipe. Bay Leaf also can be spread around in garden beds to deter insects, including ladybugs, weevils, and moths. By placing bay leaves in containers of dry foods, mealy bugs or weevils will be deterred.
Coriander - Make a tea for spraying to repel aphids, spider mites, and potato beetle, but has to be replanted annually.
Garlic -The strongly fragrant garlic plant repels white flies, aphids, Japanese beetles, and snails. Try a garlic tea to soak the ground in areas that require squirrel and deer repellent help.
Horseradish - When planted in bottomless pots around potatoes, horseradish can repel potato bugs and beetles. However, just as with the mint plant, the perennial horseradish plant is also highly invasive and will need to be contained.
Lavender – This well-known, fragrant perennial draws nectar-loving insects for pollen spreading, but also repels white flies, fleas, and moths.
Lemon Balm – Not as pretty a plant as many other herbs, this perennial from the mint family is effective as an insect deterrent. Not only can this plant be ground and dusted in the garden to deter pests, but also the leaves can be crushed and rubbed on your skin to repel mosquitoes.
Mint Plants- If mint plants were not so invasive they would be a great herb to place all around patios and in all garden beds. Mint deters ants, aphids, fleas, beetles, flies, cabbage moths, and rodents. Containers of mint can be place among your garden plants to keep the mint under control but still generate the positive impact of mint. Gardeners do need to watch for all the bees attracted to mint.
Oregano – A bushy perennial with multiple varieties, Oregano is not only a very useful cooking herb, but when planted near cabbage, cucumbers, broccoli, and cauliflower the plant can be used to deter cabbage butterfly and cucumber beetles.
Rosemary - When planted in the garden, the perennial Rosemary plant will repel cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.
Sage - Fragrant and attractive to good insects, Sage is a popular perennial with broad use as a deterrent to beetles, cabbage moths, and carrot flies.
Thyme - A tasty herb for humans but a deterrent for cabbageworms. Either the upright or low creeper perennial plant will work equally well.
Many more herbs and plants are appropriate for their use as repellants and deterrents. For additional herbs that can be utilized see "More Companion Herb Plants.”
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