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Want a thriving garden?
Herbs can help!
These 7 amazing herbs attract beneficial insects that can boost your garden’s health.
Curious about which herbs to plant?
Let’s dive in and find out!
Beneficial Insects for Your Garden
Not all bugs harm your garden; some play crucial roles in promoting healthy plant growth. Bugs like bees, ladybugs, moths, butterflies, and parasitic wasps are some of the beneficial insects that you should welcome.
Kinds of Useful Insects
Pollinators:
Pollinators help in transferring pollen from one flower to another, aiding fruit production. Common pollinators are:
- Butterflies
- Bumble bees
- Honey bees
- Hummingbirds
Predators:
Predators feed on common garden pests, preventing plant damage. Key predators include:
- Spiders
- Hoverflies
- Ladybugs
- Praying mantises
- Parasitic wasps and flies
Advantages of Biocontrol
Using biocontrol methods, which involve harnessing beneficial insects to curb unwanted pests, is a popular trend in gardening. This approach eliminates the need for chemical pesticides and insecticides, protecting your plants and the helpful bugs.
Employing these insects means you save money and contribute to a healthier, more balanced ecosystem in your garden.
Herbs That Draw Beneficial Bugs
Herb companion planting offers numerous advantages. Not only does it create a vibrant and colorful garden display that attracts beneficial insects, but it also allows you to grow low-maintenance plants that can be used for culinary purposes.
By growing and combining these 7 plants, you can enjoy the many benefits of herb companion planting.
1. Dill
Dill’s feathery green leaves and delicate yellow blooms are magnets for ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and other insects that prey on cucumber beetles, thrips, aphids, and mites.
Both native and honey bees favor dill, so your pollination concerns are minimal. As a self-seeding herb, dill comes back each year. Make sure to plant it in well-draining soil where it gets plenty of sunlight. Ideal locations include raised bed corners or the ends of rows. Pair it with companion plants for added benefits.
2. Cilantro
Cilantro, also called coriander once it seeds, features vibrant green foliage and small white or pink blooms. Its fresh, citrusy scent is a culinary treat, perfect for salsas and sauces.
The blooms attract ladybugs, lacewings, syrphid flies, and parasitic wasps. These predatory insects help manage pests like cabbage moths, spider mites, aphids, and potato beetles. Cilantro grows well in border beds or raised beds and is non-competitive, so it won’t disturb other nearby plants.
3. Yarrow
Yarrow is a versatile herb known for its role in keeping garden pests at bay. Its clusters of small flowers attract bees, ladybugs, syrphid flies, damselflies, beetles, and braconid wasps. These natural predators help protect your vegetables from aphids, tomato hornworms, and flea beetles.
Yarrow isn’t widely used in cooking but is valued for its medicinal properties and is often used as a cut flower. It thrives even in poor soils and is best planted at the ends of rows or garden margins. Pair it with companion plants for even better results.
4. Bee Balm
Bee Balm, or Monarda, is known for its striking tubular flowers in hues of red, pink, or purple. These flowers are irresistible to butterflies, hummingbirds, predatory beetles, moths, and beneficial flies.
Its aromatic leaves repel pests like spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids, and can also deter deer and rabbits. Plant bee balm in border beds, ensuring it gets partial to full sun. Avoid placing it directly in vegetable beds due to its size, which can reach up to 4 feet tall and wide.
5. Mint
Mint is renowned for its aromatic leaves and white flowers that serve as a nectar source for various insects. Beneficial wasps and flies, along with the predatory insect Nesidiocoris tenuis, are drawn to mint. The herb’s essential oils provide natural pest control.
Although mint can be invasive, it is often cultivated in gardens and containers for its manifold uses, from culinary applications to soothing teas. To prevent spreading, grow mint in containers with suitable soil. Avoid planting it in vegetable gardens as it may overtake other plants.
6. Anise Hyssop
Anise hyssop is characterized by its purple flowers and anise-scented leaves, which are both visually appealing and aromatic. This herb attracts a variety of bees, over 30 species, as well as butterflies and predatory beetles.
The herb is beneficial not only to the garden but also in the kitchen, where its leaves and flowers can be used in cooking and as garnishes. Grow anise hyssop in full sun, ideally along borders close to annual beds. It also thrives in wildflower gardens or open meadows.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile is well-known both for its use in soothing teas and its appeal to beneficial insects like ladybugs, bees, hoverflies, and wasps. Its calming fragrance also helps repel mosquitoes and other pests.
You can grow chamomile companion plants nearby, such as onions, cabbage, and other herbs, to encourage mutual growth and benefits. Ensure chamomile is planted in full sun with well-draining soil. The plant self-seeds, so you won’t need to replant it each season. Its shallow roots mean it can be easily removed if needed.