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| Late summer pic of marigolds around veggie garden |
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Different types of plants have been used throughout history to discourage “bad” insects. Add some to your garden to help control undesirable insects.
Here is a list of the veggies and herbs in my garden and the insects they deter:
*Basil-flies and mosquitoes
*Borage-tomato worms
*Catnip-flea beetles
*Citronella-mosquitoes
*Citronella-mosquitoes
*Garlic-Japanese beetles, aphids, weevils, fruit tree borers, spider mites
*Horseradish-potato bugs (plant at corners of plot, these plants get big)
*Hyssop-cabbage moths
*Lavender-clothes moths (use dried herb in closets)
*Marigold-Mexican bean beetles, nematodes, and many others (I have this planted all around my flower garden). Best are the old fashioned marigolds.
*Mint-white cabbage moths, dried-clothes moths
*Nasturtium-aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, wooly aphids
*Pennyroyal-ants and plant lice
*Peppermint-white cabbage butterflies, ants
*Petunia-beetles
*Rosemary-cabbage moths, bean beetles, carrot flies, malaria mosquitoes
*Sage-cabbage moths, carrot flies, ticks
*Spearmint-ants, aphids
*Summer savory-bean beetles
*Thyme-cabbage worms
You can also use flowers and other plants as "decoys". Nasturtiums attract flea beetles. Plant them away from the rest of your garden to lure them away. Peonies attract ants. I'll even plant lettuce away from the main garden to keep the bunnies away. For other tips on bunnies
Note of caution-horseradish, catnip, mint, peppermint, pennyroyal, and spearmint are all aggressive. Horseradish propagates via seeds so to control it, remove flowers prior to going to seed. For the rest, either grow in a pot or surround with a metal ring in the soil to stop their underground runners from overtaking your garden. Or, if you are like me, I let them run and then pull up the extras every year for use in teas and potpourri.
You can also use flowers and other plants as "decoys". Nasturtiums attract flea beetles. Plant them away from the rest of your garden to lure them away. Peonies attract ants. I'll even plant lettuce away from the main garden to keep the bunnies away. For other tips on bunnies
Note of caution-horseradish, catnip, mint, peppermint, pennyroyal, and spearmint are all aggressive. Horseradish propagates via seeds so to control it, remove flowers prior to going to seed. For the rest, either grow in a pot or surround with a metal ring in the soil to stop their underground runners from overtaking your garden. Or, if you are like me, I let them run and then pull up the extras every year for use in teas and potpourri.
I use marigolds all around the parameter of my garden. They add great summer color and are a proven insect repellant. Strong fragrance also keeps deer away. What can be better than that?
I enjoy growing flowers for their own sake and now I have a practical reason too! Love it!
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