Pest-Protecting Garden Plants

While the plants offer a protective shield against certain pests, much more can be done for the best gardening outcomes.

As plants cannot flee from predators, some varieties have built-in capabilities like strong odors to repel pests. Naturally, this could be of great benefit to many gardeners.

Let's explore a list of plants gardeners may add to protect their edible and flowering plants from pesky pests.

Some protective plants for the garden

The defensive shields from pest-protecting garden plants benefit the neighboring plants as well. Here are some examples gardeners should consider to make their open spaces pest-proof:

Bush beans

Part of the common bean species, bush beans, are stout with dense foliage. They are a good source of minerals, vitamins, protein, and dietary fiber. They are often paired with potatoes in the garden as they defend the crop from potato beetles. The potatoes protect the beans from the bean beetle in return. The same symbiotic relationship exists between the bush beans and onions.

Nasturtium

This trailing plant grows on trees, shrubs, and trellises. However, they can protect plants within the cucurbit family, including cucumbers, melons, and squash. They emit a scent that confuses some pests, like the cucumber beetles and squash bugs.

Licorice mint

Licorice mint has leaves with a heavy anise scent. It's an effective pest control plant with elegant edible flowers. While its nectar attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, it keeps cabbage worms from brassica crops. It's also known to keep deer and rabbits away.

Lemon balm

This plant repels mosquitoes and gnats due to its high citronella content. Its compound is also used to make mosquito repellents. It can be grown easily in the garden or containers. For a more effective repelling power, squeeze the plant's leaves to release more of the scent.

Ornamental allium

Alliums are known for their strong, pungent odor. They are the best for defending roses from Japanese beetles and aphids. Alliums defend vegetables from slugs, cabbage worms, and carrot flies. If its seeds are planted, they take a significant period to germinate. Therefore, it's better to plant the bulbs instead.

Lavender

The lavender fragrance repels moths, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies. Deer and rabbits are also not quite fond of this plant. Apart from the repelling capability, the plant attracts butterflies and bees for better pollination.

Keep the garden safe

While the plants offer a protective shield against certain pests, much more can be done for the best gardening outcomes. But not all pests can be tackled with plants. So consult with pest control experts for more assistance. The experts in the field can offer advice on various pest control measures to use and may suggest more pest-protecting garden plants to add to your list.

Kinder Safe Pest Solutions offers 17 years of experience in commercial and residential pest control serving Manatee and Sarasota counties. Call (941)254-2180 today!