How to Use Companion
Plants For Better Pest Control
You've
struggled, you've toiled and, at last, you are satisfied with your
garden. It just couldn't be better. But what's this? Pests! Now
you've got to prevent the invasion of destructive bugs in your
garden. Here's the best kind of gardening advice you can find for
that purpose: Try growing companion plants.
Companion plants are very useful to
gardeners or farmers. They have natural substances in them that will
repel or attract insects. In specific cases, they can even increase
the growth rate of plants, even improve the flavors these plants
produce. Not only that but they help to bring a balanced ecosystem
to the landscape. Overall then, growing companion plants will result
in much healthier and productive plants and better crop production.
There are many kinds of companion
plants available. If this is the first you've heard of them, you'll
probably be very surprised by what you'll find. These are some
examples of companion plants:
- Tomatoes for cabbages. Some moths
feed on cabbage leaves as well, producing the same problems caused
by cabbageworms. Worse, moths give birth to larvae at such a rapid
pace that a full blown infestation is almost always guaranteed.
Growing tomatoes alongside cabbage
plants will help ward off moths. Tomato plant emit a particular odor
that moths just can't stand. It is loathsome to them. As such, moths
will stay away from the garden and lay their larvae elsewhere. -
Chives or garlic for roses. Roses are grown for their beautiful
flowers. But pests can destroy these flowers and make a quarter of a
year's labor go to waste. Growing chives near roses will help repel
the usual pests that feed on rose flowers.
Garlic is said to have the same
effect of repelling such pests. Garlic actually collects sulfur,
which is a natural fungicide, and can greatly increase disease
prevention.
- Beans for corn. A pest
infestation on corn crops can be very harmful, even dangerous for
the entire farm or the surrounding area. Growing beans in the garden
or backyard will help to attract beneficial insects that will prey
on and help to eradicate the common pests that haunt corn fields.
Armyworms, leaf beetles and leaf hoppers will all be but sad
memories when bean plants accompany growing corns.
Sunflowers are also very good for
corn. Just planting them around corn it is said will increase their
yield. And if you've got aphid problems, you won't for long. Your
unknown friends, in the form of ants, will herd the aphids like
cattle onto the sunflowers. It's a curious thing. The sunflowers
themselves are so tough that the aphids can do no more than very
little damage at best.
- Nasturtiums for cucumbers.
Cucumber attracts cucumber beetles. These are small insects which
have strong jaws that are even able to cut right through the
cucumbers themselves. Nasturtiums, on the other hand, drive off
cucumber beetles and allow for the healthy development of cucumber
plants.
These are only a few of the many
types of companion plants that are available for you to use. Some of
them are actually crop plants. Many can be found in varying types of
vegetable gardens. Give yourself time to discover what these
companion plants are. You may surprise yourself with the
combinations you can create.
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