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We all know it is a lot of work to get your garden looking good, producing the vegetables and flowers that you love, and then bugs come in. They chew holes in the leaves, they chew holes in the stems, they destroy your flowers, and your plants give up. Companion planting is a method of planting that has been around for centuries, where the plants help each other.
I want to explore specifically how plants can help keep harmful insects away from other plants, even while attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Table of Contents
Which insects are we talking about?
Aphids, cabbage looper, flea beetles, squash bugs, white flies, cabbage moths, and mosquitos are bugs we do not want. They weaken the plant’s health, destroy the leaves, and reduce the harvest dramatically. If we can get rid of these bugs without extra effort or expense, then we are definitely happier.
What are our favorite deterrents?
I know that sounds odd, but we really do love the plants that help keep away destructive insects. We don’t want pesticides or sprays on the food that we eat. We want the plants to thrive so that there are abundant harvests, and we have found plants that help further that goal. Our favorite plants are the ones that we can harvest regularly as well as count on to keep the growing area free of pests.
7 Favorite Herbs that are Deterrents
Nearly all of the herbs are handy at attracting beneficial insects and repelling the undesirables. We have found the most potent to be basil, chives, dill, garlic, and mint.
Basil is such a delicious herb that we love it in some many recipes. But basil also helps deter mosquitos, flea beetles, and cabbage worms.
Chives and all the members of the allium family, including scallions, shallots, leeks, and onions are great in cooking, so of course you should plant them. Plant alliums next to tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, carrots, kale, and broccoli. These help to deter aphids, cabbage worms, slugs, and carrot flies.
Dill has a refreshing flavor and is highly prized for making pickles, but it also helps repel aphid, mosquitos, spider mites, and squash bugs. Plant dill near squash plants, broccoli, or kale. Dill can also serve as a lure for tomato hornworms, as the hornworms will leave the tomato plants and munch on the dill instead.
Garlic is one of my very favorite herbs, as I love it roasted, sauteed, mixed into stir fry, added to sauces, mixed into bread—really, there is no such thing as too much garlic. The same is true for your garden, as the strong odor and sulfur content will help keep away aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and pesky rodents. You can also put the garlic cloves in a blender, squeeze the pulp through a cheesecloth, and spray the tops and bottoms of leaves that have any aphids or beetles. Or just plant some garlic every 2-3 rows.
Lavender is beautiful, fragrant, and great at keeping away fleas, flies, moths, and mosquitos. Dried lavender is still effective, so harvest some of that abundance. Of course, lavender is wonderful in cooking, simple syrups, to relieve anxiety or stress, and for skin treatments.
Mint— this includes all members of the mint family, including lemonbalm, catnip, and classic mint. Catnip might be the most potent for keeping mosquitos away, but all of the mint family helps deter rodents as well as gnats and mosquitos. Plant mint in pots to keep it contained, and place it near doorways or in window boxes. Mint is a wonderful cooling herb in the summer.
Rosemary is magnificent for seasoning a wide variety of dishes, plus rosemary is another mosquito repellant. You can take cuttings and rub them on your skin for personal protection.
3 Favorite Flowers that help deter pests
These flowers are also edible, so they are great for accents on a meal, and they are an excellent way to elevate your cooking—just by picking some flowers in the yard. You can also make tea or dry them for other uses. I’m talking about Nasturtiums, Marigolds, and Chrysanthemums.
Marigolds help repel aphids, whiteflies, plant lice, and nematodes. Marigolds also help deter rabbits. Plant them anywhere near your vegetables to help protect them. They are hardy and bloom all summer. Marigolds have a strong flavor, which can be slightly bitter. If you grow the taller variety of marigolds, they are excellent for cut flowers. Marigolds are highly prized for celebrations at the beginning of November, such as Day of the Dead and Diwali.
Nasturtiums are known for their peppery flavor, akin to arugula, and bright flowers. They serve double duty by attracting ladybugs and lacewings (very beneficial for your garden!) plus they help deter aphids, borers, and leafhoppers. Nasturtiums are popular as edible flowers.
Chrysanthemums naturally contain pyrethrin, a chemical which is toxic to insects but safe for birds and mammals. The strong scent helps repel rodents, and the pyrethrin helps get rid of ants, fleas, lice, spider mites, and Japanese beetles. Chrysanthemums generally bloom in the fall, but that is an excellent time to deter pests from relocating from the garden to the house. Dried flowers and leaves can be scattered throughout the garden for the following season. Chrysanthemums do well as cut flowers with a good vase life.
FAQs
Q: Can plants really keep insects away from the vegetable garden?
A: These plants definitely help, but each year is different and sometimes the insect pressure is very high.
Q: Is it hard to find plants that help keep aphids away?
A: There are many culinary herbs that are also deterrents for aphids, so it is easy to incorporate them into your garden.
Q: Do you need to re-plant these herbs each year to keep the pests away?
A: Some of these are annual herbs, meaning you plant them each year, such as basil, dill, and garlic. Others are perennials, which will come back to life each spring, such as lavender, rosemary, mint, and chives.
Q: Do these plants need a lot of care for them to be effective against pests?
A: One of the great things about all of these plants is how easy they are to grow. They are hardy and hardworking members of your garden, ready to protect against harmful insects. They are enerally heat and drought-tolerant.
Q: What are the top two plants that help deter bugs?
A: We love our Top Ten for a variety of reasons, but marigolds and dill are amazing as they don’t seem to ever get anything bad.
Conclusion
No need to resort to harmful sprays or spend hours trying to clean the bugs out. Incorporate some of the top ten pest deterrents throughout your garden or farm to help keep your growing area pristine. Marigolds are a beautiful border while they work as an invisible fence. The herbs are all delicious and help protect their neighbors. The scent of lavender makes us relax, but the plants are potent for keeping away the undesirables.
Using plants as pest deterrents helps keep the environment clean, your garden healthy, and brings you great enjoyment. Happy growing!
~ Ruth