Natural Defenders!
Gardening is a rewarding and relaxing pastime, but keeping plants healthy often means dealing with unwanted pests.
1. Attract Beneficial Insects
Plant umbelliferous flowers: This family is a large group of flowering plants that includes many familiar plants like carrots, parsley, celery, dill, fennel, and parsnip. These flowers attract natural predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and hoverflies, which feed on soft-bodied pests.
Encourage birds and frogs: These predators can help control slugs and other pests.
Provide shelter: Create habitats like twig or log piles or buy a bug hotel or two to attract beneficial insects.
2. Natural Repellents
Companion planting: Certain plants naturally repel pests. Try these combinations
Basil with tomatoes (repels flies, mosquitoes)
Marigolds planted near everything (deters aphids, nematodes)
Nasturtiums near cucumbers, beans (trap aphids, beetles)
Chives near roses (repels aphids)
Ferns, Foxgloves & Hardy Geraniums near leafy plants such as Hostas (repels slugs and snails)
Ageratums near garden seating – contains Coumarin, a natural repellant (midges and biting insects)
FOR LARGER PESTS…
Scaredy Cat Plant (Coleus canina) deters cats and foxes
Achillea, Allium or Kniphofia are unpalatable plants and deter deer and rabbits
Ageratums plant near garden seating as these contain Coumarin which is a natural midge repellant
Natural pesticides: Along with, or if the other methods fail, you can use natural pesticides – products such as the Grazers eco-friendly range of sprays safely keep pests at bay, using eco-friendly ingredients – from the smallest of pests to larger species like rabbits, deer and pigeons. For more susceptible plants such as Hostas, Vitax Slug Gone Wool Pellets offer protection from slugs and snails and for larger animals in the garden such as cats and foxes, Silent Roar pellets, which have the scent of lion dung are highly effective deterrent on borders.
Organic traps: For example, the Vitax sticky traps that capture whitefly.
3. Physical Barriers
Use barriers: Employ netting, copper tape, or gravel to create barriers that deter pests.
Crop rotation: Rotate crops each year to prevent pest buildup in specific areas.
4. Other Techniques
Ensure your plants are well-nourished and cared for to make them less susceptible to pests.
Remove weak or infested plants quickly. Remove dead leaves, fallen fruit, and other debris to prevent pests from breeding.
Shop the Natural Defenders range as it features in Spring & Summer 2025 Cuttings here
