Nature is full of good insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and bees. It’s important to plant a variety of host plants for these beneficial bugs who come to feast on the bad insects that will harm your other plants (aphids, whiteflies, thrips). It is also essential to plant perennial plants that attract pollinators such as bees and hoverflies.
One practice within the gardening community that is harmful to, and drives beneficial insects away is the use of pesticides. Many pesticides are broad spectrum and will kill the good insects along with the bad. If you wipe out the population of beneficial insects, you’re left to fight the pests by yourself. Choose a safer, organic alternative to pesticides in order to protect the good insects and drive away the bad! We have plenty of products that will do the trick, so stop in for a visit! Any one of our gardening professionals will be able to advise you on the best product for your situation.
In addition to not using harmful pesticides, planting plants that attract beneficial bugs will help greatly with increasing the population of bugs you DO want, and decreasing the population of bugs you DON'T want. Below is a list of a few plants that we suggest!
Good plants to attract ladybugs and lacewings:
Yarrow
Dill
Queen Anne’s Lace
Tansy
Butterfly Weed
Coriander
Good plants to attract bees and hoverflies:
Lavender
Feverfew
Poppy Mallow
Globe Lily
Cosmos
Queen Anne’s Lace
Pennyroyal
Statice
Stonecrops
French Marigold
Sweet Alyssum
If you would like more information on the types of plants listed above or are seeking advice on organic options for pest control products, we are here to help! Give us a call, send us a message, or come into the store. We look forward to working with you!