Include an Explainer Video
In this video, we will demonstrate how plants can be used to repel pests in the vegetable garden. Herbs such as rosemary and garlic, along with other aromatic plants like mint and marigolds, have been used for centuries to keep unwanted insects and animals away from gardens. These plants contain natural oils that have a strong smell which is off-putting for many kinds of pests. Planting these aromatic herbs within or around your vegetable garden provides a natural barrier against ants and other creepy crawlers. You can also grow strongly scented flowering plants such as lavender, chamomile, or geraniums near areas where slugs are prevalent to deter them from eating your vegetables. Even stronger smelling essential oils, like clove or eucalyptus oil, act as effective pest repellents when placed around vegetables in the garden. We hope this information helps you protect your vegetable garden using these all-natural methods!
Discuss Different Plant Species
Marigold: Marigolds are often used to repel aphids, mites, nematodes and other pests that can damage vegetables in the garden. The flowers contain pyrethrum, an insecticide derived from daisy-like blooms. Planting marigolds around the edges of the garden can help keep invading bugs away.
Garlic: Garlic is another great natural repellent for vegetable gardens, as it has powerful bug-repelling properties. Plant garlic between vegetable rows to create a barrier that discourages aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. For best results, crush fresh cloves of garlic and spread them around your plants before planting season begins.
Onion: Onions contain a strong odor which many insects dislike, making them great deterrents in and around gardens. When chopped up or pulverized into pieces, onions can be used to effectively ward off aphids, flea beetles and carrot flies from attacking crops. Sprinkling shavings or diced pieces near or on the plants will usually suffice.
Basil: Basil is a favorite among gardeners because it not only adds flavor to foods but has long been used as a natural pest control for vegetable gardens. The sweet aroma helps repel flies like fruit flies and mosquitoes while insects such as aphids are discouraged by its flavor-filled foliage. Basil planted regularly throughout your veggie patch can help spread effective protection against common insect infestations without putting any harsh chemicals on food crops.
Lemon Balm: Lemon balm also known as bee balm is a familiar perennial herb with potential pest repelling benefits for vegetable gardening. It releases an appealing fragrant essential oil when crushed which works well against Japanese beetles, squash bugs and cabbage maggots while helping living green lacewings thrive in its protective environment.
Incorporate Photos
If you are looking for more natural ways to protect your vegetable garden from pesky pests, try using plants and herbs as pest repellents. These hearty plants create an inhospitable environment that repels and keeps out destructive insects, such as slugs, aphids, and Japanese beetles. Examples of such plants include lavender, marigolds, garlic chives, elderberry, rosemary, mint, tansy and coneflower.
Lavender has a sweet aroma that helps keep away aphids and other garden bugs. Its oil also helps control moths and fleas. Marigolds have a strong aroma that deter mosquitoes and aphids; it makes an attractive border around gardens and yards. Garlic chives are an easy-to-grow plant with a pungent scent that is disliked by many pests including slugs. Elderberry is loaded with vitamins A & C and its flowers attract beneficial pollinators while deterring some pests and rodents. Rosemary contains oils used as natural insecticides which help ward off not only insects but also rabbits too! Mint can be planted near cabbage plants to drive away all sorts of cabbage eating bugs. Tansy’s bright yellow flowers are said to be effective against ants while coneflowers draw in beneficial predators while repelling mosquitoes at the same time!
Incorporating these pest-repellent plants into your vegetable garden will offer relief from bothersome critters in no time! Here is what some of these wonderful pest-repellant plants look like:
[Image: Lavendar Plant]
[Image: Marigold Plant]
[Image: Garlic Chive Plant]
[Image: Elderberry Plant]
[Image: Rosemary Bush]
[Image: Mint Leaves]
[Image: Tansy Flower]
[Image: Purple Coneflower]
Include Organic Pesticide Recipes
1. Garlic: To make a garlic spray, peel and mince 8 cloves of garlic and steep in 2 cups of hot water for at least 1 hour. Strain the mixture, add 1 teaspoon of mineral or liquid soap, then store in a spray bottle. Apply this garlic spray to affected plants on a weekly basis until pests are no longer present.
2. Hot Pepper Spray: Blend one cup of hot peppers with 2 cups of water until smooth, strain the mixture through cheesecloth and store the liquid in spray bottles. Spray the plants as needed when insects appear.
3. Chrysanthemums: Steep a handful of dried chrysanthemum flowers in about 4 cups of hot water for about an hour before straining and storing the liquid into several spray bottles for convenient use. Spraying directly onto infested plants will help reduce their numbers within 14 days after first application.
4. Neem Oil: Neem oil is widely known as an effective pesticide against many types of insects like aphids, mites, beetles and more; thus it makes a great natural choice to protect vegetable garden crops from pests! Mix four teaspoons of pure neem oil extract with two tablespoons mild liquid soap diluted in a quart (about one liter)of warm water inside a spray bottle; shake well before use and apply directly onto affected plants as needed throughout the growing season.
Include Tips from Taste Gardeners
In your vegetable garden, there are several plants that you can use to repel pests. Marigolds are one option, as they have a strong smell pests won’t like and many gardeners use them to protect other plants from getting eaten by various bugs. Basil is another option as it has a strong scent and taste that both animals and bugs don’t appreciate. Garlic also works as an effective pest repellent, but be aware that if you plant too much garlic in your vegetable bed, it will overpower the taste of your vegetables so keep it to a minimum; a few strategically placed cloves of garlic should be enough to do the job. Additionally, some gardeners highly recommend planting chives around the perimeter of your gardens because the smell from these herbs can scare away certain pests. Finally, talk to local expert or experienced gardeners who have used different kinds of plants for pest control in their own gardens and ask for advice or tips on how best to incorporate those same plants into yours for maximum pest protection.
If you’re looking to get into vegetable gardening, or are just looking for some tips on how to make your current garden better, then you’ve come to the right place! My name is Ethel and I have been gardening for years. In this blog, I’m going to share with you some of my best tips on how to create a successful vegetable garden.
