What are beneficial insects, you ask?

Simply put they are good bugs that eat the bad bugs.  They include ladybugs, bees, lacewings, and hoverflies.  I know it is hard to believe but you want these bugs in your garden!

Pesticides are not safe.   It is really that simple.  As a way to keep my family safe and healthy, I have implemented the most effective natural forms of pest control in my garden.  One of the ways I keep the “bad bugs” at bay is by adding certain plants to encourage a healthy population of beneficial garden insects that act as organic pest control.

Another way I keep garden pests away is by Companion Planting.  Check out The Beginners Guide to Companion Planting.

 

 

Top 10 Plants For Attracting Beneficial Insects

 

 

Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina or Achllea Millefolium)

 

 

Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)

 

 

 

Lavender (Lavendula)

 

 

 

Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

 

 

 

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

 

 

 

Some of my favorite places to get organic seeds are  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, David’s Garden’s Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange.  In December, when the seed catalogs start to arrive at my home, I am like a little child on Christmas morning. There are many excellent seed sources, I encourage you to try purchasing from a variety of businesses and see what you like.  The cheapest way to acquire seeds is to save them yourself.  Seeds must come from Heirloom varieties in order to save the seed and have the seedlings come true.

 

 

 

Dill (Anethum Graveolens)

 

 

 

Lemonbalm (Melissa Officinalis)

 

 

 

Cosmos (especially White Sensation)

 

 

 

Borage (Borago Officinalis)

 

 

 

Catmint (Nepeta Mussinni)

 

 

Let me tell you about the Three “P’s” of beneficial insects.  The goal of this all-natural form of pesticide is to attract all three types of bugs into your garden.  The three “P’s” of beneficial insects represent three different kinds of bugs. They are pollinators, predators and parasites.  Pollinators, such as honeybees, fertilize the flowers which increase the productivity of food crops.   Predators, such as ladybugs eat the bad insects as food.  The parasites use pests as a way to feed their young.  As you can see it is a very complete way to manage garden pests.

 

 

Happy Planting!

 

 

YOUR TURN…

What is your favorite way to manage “Bad Bugs” in your garden?

 

Blessings,