what to plant to keep pests out of garden

What can I plant with other plants to keep pests away?

If your garden seems to be loved by squash bugs, beetles, flies, whiteflies, or cabbage loopers, you’ll definitely want to companion-plant some nasturtiums. Nasturtiums release a scent in the air that naturally keeps off many pests without harming any other plants or even the beloved bee. Purchase nasturtium seeds online. 15. Onions

How to grow herbs to keep pests out of house?

In addition to growing it in your garden or a pot, you can also tie small bundles of the herb over doorways and near windows to keep pests out of the house.

What can I plant to keep ants out of my Garden?

Plant basil in pots and place them around patios to form a protective barrier. Bay leaf: Bay is slow-growing repellent plant and common ingredient in soups and stews. Bay leaves also repel flies, cockroaches, and ants.

How can you 'deter pesky bugs' from your garden?

GARDENING experts are urging gardeners to "deter pesky bugs" through sacrificial planting. This is achieved through growing plants which will attract harmful pests away from the plants and crops you are trying to protect. This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

What can I plant in my vegetable garden to keep pests away?

11 Garden Plants to Help Keep Bugs Away!Marigolds. The scent of a marigold will deter plant lice, mosquitoes, and even rabbits. ... Chrysanthemums. This might be the best plant to deter bugs. ... Mint. Mint plants can repel spiders, ants, and mosquitoes. ... Basil. ... Citronella grass. ... Lavender. ... Chives. ... Petunias.More items...•

How can I protect my garden from pests naturally?

10 Natural Ways to Eliminate Garden Insect PestsStart with “Clean” Soil. Good soil can actually deter garden insect pests. ... Buy Disease and Pest-Resistant Seeds. ... Selectively and Aggressively Thin Out Plants. ... Water Plants in the Early Morning. ... Control Weeds. ... Keep your Garden Clean. ... Use Insect Traps. ... Add Beneficial Insects.More items...•

What plants drive away pests?

Lavender is a favorite among many beneficial insects and also repels fleas and moths. Marigolds – The marigold is probably the most well-known plant for repelling insects. French marigolds repel whiteflies and kill bad nematodes.

How do you repel pests from your garden?

Spread crushed eggshells beneath the targeted plants and creepy-crawlies will move along. Make A Stink: Many aromatic herbs, like yarrow, citronella, mint, fennel, catnip, basil, and lemongrass are natural deterrents for garden pests from aphids to potato beetles.

How do I protect my vegetable garden from animals?

How to Protect Your Vegetable Garden From AnimalsFences. Fences are generally your best bet when it comes to protecting your vegetable garden from pests like rabbits and deer. ... Plant Barrier Plants. ... Cayenne Pepper Tea. ... Predator Urine. ... Make a Beer Trap. ... Plant Covers. ... Other Animals. ... Other Plants.

What can I plant with tomatoes to keep bugs away?

More Herbs & Flowers to Plant with Tomatoes to Keep Bugs Away: Don't just stop at planting Marigolds with your tomatoes. For further protection from pest bugs, you can also plant basil, beans, bee balm, borage, sweet alyssum, chives, garlic, nasturtium, mint, anise, onion, and parsley.

Do marigolds keep animals away?

They Don't Work. In reality, marigolds don't repel rabbits, deer or any other animals from gardens, said horticultural experts at Iowa State University and Texas A&M University. Rabbits may actually eat marigolds while deer simply ignore them.

Do marigolds deter mice?

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) don't repel rodents, such as mice, voles, rats, squirrels, chipmunks and groundhogs. Recommended deterrents for these unwanted garden visitors vary based on the species.

Does mint deter garden pests?

Mint (Mentha) The scent of mint repels aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and even ants. To prevent this aggressive grower from taking over your vegetable garden, you can simply lay sprigs of mint among the plants you want to protect, but the sprigs must be replaced often.

How do I keep bugs from eating my vegetables?

Placing a copper ring around the base of plants will help deter slugs and snails. A floating row cover (lightweight fabric) either laid on the plants or held up by wire hoops can be used to keep insects like cabbage loopers, bean beetles, cucumber beetles, and squash vine borers off your plants.

What can I plant next to basil to keep bugs away?

PETUNIAS - Plant near cruciferous veggies, beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn, and peppers. Roses also do well when this natural insect deterrent is planted nearby. It repels aphids, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers, and squash bugs. These pests get trapped in their sticky stamens.

What plants repel mosquitoes?

Its tiny flowers also attract bees which help the pollination of surrounding plants. Marigolds: The aroma of marigolds repels mosquitoes, aphids, and rabbits.

What is the best flower to plant in a vegetable garden?

This makes nasturtiums a popular flower to plant along the border of vegetable gardens. Parsley: This bright green biennial plant is a popular culinary garnish, but it also serves as an effective repellent against asparagus beetles. Learn how to grow parsley in your garden here.

How to keep mosquitoes out of vegetable garden?

Whether you want to keep mosquitos out of your yard or harmful pests out of your vegetable garden, there are natural ways to repel bugs that don't involve citronella candles or pesticides. For an environmentally friendly DIY pest solution, try growing one or more insect-repelling plants.

What is the best herb to repel flies?

Basil: This easy-to-grow culinary herb doubles as a repellent for houseflies and mosquitoes. Plant basil in pots and place them around patios to form a protective barrier. Bay leaf: Bay is slow-growing repellent plant and common ingredient in soups and stews. Bay leaves also repel flies, cockroaches, and ants.

What is the best way to kill spider mites?

Dill: Planting dill is a way to repel bugs like spider mites, squash bugs, and aphids from your vegetable garden. A word of warning: Dill is known to attract tomato hornworms, so keep dill away from your tomato plants.

What is the best insect repellent for spiders?

Chrysanthemums: Since they naturally contain a compound called pyrethrum that's common in many artificial insect repellents, chrysanthemums are an effective way to deter pesky insects like spider mites, silverfish, Japanese beetles, ants, bed bugs, roaches, and fleas.

Why are nasturtiums called trap crops?

Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums are known as a "trap crop" because instead of repelling pests, they attract them to their own leaves. This means bugs like cabbage moths and aphids will focus on the nasturtiums instead of crops like cabbages, tomatoes, and beans.

What are some good plants to keep away bugs?

Marigolds. Marigolds are one of a vegetable garden’s best friends. The plants produce a strong smell, masking the smells of the surrounding vegetables, as well as a phototoxin called alpha-terthienyl, which repel bugs. Marigolds are successful at keeping away Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, aphids, and many other pests.

How to keep pests out of garden?

There are plenty of ways to keep pests out of your garden without harsh chemicals. Different plants can work in combination with others to create an almost bug-free garden. Combination planting has been around for a very long time, and can make any garden successful.

How to get rid of bugs in garlic?

Planting garlic near other tomatoes and cabbages will discourage spider mites, Japanese beetles, and aphids. Spaying your garden with a mixture of garlic and water is another way to get rid of pesky bugs. Believe it or not, that garlicky smell isn’t liked by bugs. It’s best to plant garlic near carrots and lettuce plants, masking the smell of those plants. Another option is to mix six or seven cloves of crushed garlic, half an onion, and a small amount of liquid dish soap in a quart of water. Let it sit for a couple of hours and then spray the vegetables with a mister. Be sure to get both the bottom and top of the leaves. Bugs will stay as far away from the garlic as possible.

What are some good plants to plant with onions?

Onions are an excellent companion plant to carrots, lettuce, strawberries, and beets. When grouped together bugs, such as maggots, are repelled by the overwhelming smell. Aphids and mites are also among the group of bugs that don’t like the smell of onions. They can be used in a mixture with water to pour at the base of plants to keep bugs from returning. To create the mix, chop up one onion and let it sit in a quart of water overnight. Strain the onions out, and pour approximately one cup around the base of your vegetables. Repeat in about two weeks if the pests return.

How to keep bugs from returning to plants?

They can be used in a mixture with water to pour at the base of plants to keep bugs from returning. To create the mix, chop up one onion and let it sit in a quart of water overnight. Strain the onions out, and pour approximately one cup around the base of your vegetables. Repeat in about two weeks if the pests return.

What is the best plant to plant in a garden?

Geraniums. Geraniums are not only a gorgeous and colorful plant but a helpful companion to your garden. The plant secretes an oil called citronella that helps keep bugs away. Mosquitoes, cabbage worms, and leafhoppers don’t like the oil and keep their distance. Geraniums are great to plant throughout the garden, ...

Why use plants as pest controller?

The benefit of using plants as a pest controller is that you end up with a natural and safer way to control bugs in your vegetable garden, as well as a garden full of food.

What plants repel insects?

With this thought in mind, it also helps to choose plants that are native to your area. This way beneficial insects will already know what to look for. Artemisia – This plant produces a strong antiseptic, although not unpleasant aroma that repels most insects. Planted in drifts it can also deter small animals.

What is the best plant to plant in the garden to repel hornworms?

Borage – This plant is a real workhorse in the garden. It repels tomato hornworms and cabbage worms and attracts beneficial bees and wasps. Borage also adds trace elements to the soil. This is an annual but readily comes back each year from seed.

What is dill used for in tomato plants?

Dill attracts hoverflies and predatory wasps, and its foliage is used as food by swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. Tomato hornworms are also attracted to dill, so if you plant it at a distance, you can help draw these destructive insects away from your tomatoes. Dill repels aphids and spider mites.

What is the best plant to plant in a garden to attract bees?

Hyssop – This is another one of my favorite plants. Hyssop is great for attracting honeybees to the garden. Lavender – I can’t imagine my garden without lavender. I just love its fresh scent and delicate blue blooms. Lavender is a favorite among many beneficial insects and also repels fleas and moths.

What plants attract spider mites?

And while this plant drives away many bad bugs, it also attracts spider mites and snails. Nasturtiums – I plant nasturtiums with my tomatoes and cucumbers as a way to fight off wooly aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles. The flowers, especially the yellow blooming varieties, act as a trap for aphids.

What is the best thing about gardening?

One of the great things about gardening is that in some ways your garden can take care of itself. Now I’m not endorsing abandoning your garden chores completely, but there are a few things that you can do to make your work a little easier. One of these things is to select plants for your garden that will help control insect pests.

Why do we use plants for pest control?

Using plants for pest control not only cuts down on your workload, but it also reduces the amount of insecticides that you use in your garden. And fewer insecticides means more good bugs, which in turn means help in controlling bad bugs. Remember that what works in my garden may not work in yours.

What plants keep worms away?

Other examples of these pest and bug repellent plants include garlic, leeks, and shallots. Chives keep away rabbits, carrot fly, Japanese beetles, and mites.

How to keep bugs away from my garden?

However, an easy way to naturally deter them is by planting the right herbs, flowers, and plants that repel pests.

What herbs repel earwigs?

Bay Leaves. Bay leaves are great at keeping away flies, weevils, rats, and moths. They also repel earwig insects. Therefore, place the leaves (fresh or dried) in areas where these pests might show up. 7. Dill. Among the herbs that repel bugs, dill is an excellent pick.

What plants are good for squash bugs?

Nasturtium. If your garden seems to be loved by squash bugs, beetles, whiteflies, or cabbage loopers, you’ll definitely want to companion-plant some nasturtiums. Nasturtiums release a scent in the air that naturally keeps off many insects without harming any other plants or even the beloved bee.

How to make a natural repellent spray?

To make a homemade spray, simply add some dried rosemary to boiling water for half an hour. Next, strain into a container that contains equal parts of cool water. Finally, store the mixture in the fridge in a spray bottle and use it when needed.

What flowers repel bugs?

2. Lavender. Considered one of the best flowers for garden pests, lavender keeps away all kinds of bad insects. It repels rodents, flies, fleas, mosquitoes, no see ums, caterpillars, and moths. Additionally, it adds a splash of color to your garden or windowsill.

How to keep mosquitoes out of house?

In addition to growing it in your garden or a pot, you can also tie small bundles of the herb over doorways and near windows to keep insects out of the house. Order lavender seeds online. 3. Lemongrass. Among the plants that repel mosquitoes, lemongrass is a key ingredient in many mosquito-repellent candles and oils.

Why are tight packed plants important?

It's crucial that your garden gets some air circulation from a good breeze on a regular basis. Tightly packed plants are very inviting to feeding insects that enjoy both the shelter from the heat and the cover from predators. They will raise their families in there and eat their way out.

Why are my plants falling behind on harvest?

Generally falling behind on your harvest isn't a problem, but fruits falling off the plants and plopping to the ground are an easy mark for insects. And any overripe fruit or vegetable still clinging to the plant tends to shift the whole plant into decline, and weak plants are the first ones that insects target.

What to do if zucchini is too big?

If your zucchini or beans have grown to an embarrassing size, harvest the over-sized fruits and then give the plant some extra water, a light feeding, and then give it time to recoup. In the meantime, be on the alert for any opportunistic pest who might try to make their move. Read More.

Do beneficial insects need nectar?

But beneficial insects need pollen and nectar, as much as the protein from other insects, so having the plants that they favor will keep them periodically checking in, if not permanently moving in. An easy way to accomplish this is to allow some herbs, lettuce, and cole plants to go to flower. Continue to 5 of 5 below.

Do damp plants dry off before evening?

Secondly, the leaves will have time to dry off before evening. Damp plants, especially if you also have the tendency to plant things close and densely, are ideal hangouts for many garden pests, like slugs, snails, and earwigs.

Can you have pest problems in a vegetable garden?

While nothing can guarantee you won't have pest problems in your vegetable garden, there are some low effort ways to cut down on the pest population. Basically, you want to avoid the conditions that invite pests into your garden in the first place. These five tips will help keep your plants healthy and problem free. 01 of 05.

What plants repel mosquitoes?

Here’s a quick list of some of plants that are revered for their insect-repelling properties. 1. Lavender. Lavender. Not only is lavender beautiful and fragrant, but it is known to repel mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths. 2. Basil. While we all love the smell of basil, mosquitoes, moths, and flies are not fans.

What is the best defense against cabbage worms?

Alliums. This member of the onion family is known for tall spikes that produce gigantic balls of purple flowers (although there are also smaller varieties). Alliums are one of the best defenses against a variety of pests, including cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies, and slugs, as they dislike the smell. 7. Chrysanthemums.

What is the best mosquito repellent?

Thyme will also help keep mosquitoes away from your gardens. 4. Mint. Mint. Mint is another mosquito repellent, but one that you should use with care because it spreads aggressively and may take over a planting. Plant it in pots and place it near doorways. 5. Lemongrass.

Why do marigolds attract bugs?

Plant marigolds to attract beneficial insects that attack and kill aphids. Ladybugs are especially fond of aphids. 10.

Why crush the leaves of a sage plant?

They’re certainly beautiful plants to grow in the backyard, but if you’re planting them because of the promise of fewer bugs flying around your yard , you’ll have to crush the leaves to obtain any bug-repelling properties.

Does basil repel flies?

While we all love the smell of basil, mosquitoes, moths, and flies are not fans. Use basil to repel flies and moths in your garden, and crush leaves and rub on your skin while your working in the garden to keep mosquitos off you!