Natural Pest Control in the Garden
Herbal Companion Plants make Organic Gardening Easy
Insects that harm garden plants can be deterred without toxic chemicals. While many organic pest control products are available, a gardener runs the risk of chasing away beneficial bugs and insects as well as the intended target.
Invite Beneficial Insects into the Garden with Herbs
Insects that act as pollinators and those that feed on destructive insects can be attracted to the garden by planting herbs that feed them, like yarrow, catnip and dill.
The herb thyme will attract pollinating bees to tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant, giving them a chance to increase their yield. Thyme planted near cabbage helps deter cabbageworms and whitefly.
Peppermint, rosemary, and sage also attract beneficial insects to the garden.
Hoverflies feed on aphids that weaken plants as they suck sap from them. Black fly and green peach aphids are the best known aphids in the garden. Excretions from aphids in turn attract and feed ants that will cause root damage as they tunnel into the garden.
Plant the herbs chamomile and wild marigold next to the garden plants affected by aphids to attract the hoverfly to its feast of garden pest.
Other insects that will feed on aphids are spiders, ladybugs, and lacewings. Ladybugs can be attracted to the garden with plantings of angelica or dill. Dandelions, yarrow and wild carrot are also welcoming to the ladybug.
Plant Herbs to Keep Predators away from Garden Vegetables
Not only can you use herbal companion plants as a welcoming beacon for beneficial bugs, strategic planting can help protect your valuable plants from garden pests.
Blackfly aphids can be drawn away from the garden by placing nasturtiums in an area away from the plants. This won’t work for whitefly, because that garden pest tends to be repelled by the plant.
Eggs laid on the leaves of plants of the Brassica genus, like cabbage, mustards, broccoli and Brussels sprout, by the cabbage-white butterfly hatch into caterpillars that can ravage the entire plant overnight. Planting chive, hyssop and wild marigold alongside the Brassica will deter the cabbage-white butterfly.
Eelworm, wire worm and millipedes are discouraged by wild marigold. In fact, marigold is the most widely used companion plant in the garden.
Plants bothered by flea beetles and weevils need a companion tomato plant, and tomato plants bothered by tomato worms can be protected with a nearby planting of borage.
The carrot root fly is deterred by the scent of chives. Chives will also help prevent the spread of black spot on roses and scab on apples.
Source:
Atha, Anthony. The Ultimate Herb Book. Great Britain: Collens & Brown Limited, 2001.
Attract the Ladybug for Natural Pest Control
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