Companion Planting Herbs for Pest Control
 |
| Tomato hornworm |
Companion planting with herbs and other plants can be an important component of sustainable gardening. The way you layout your garden is important for lots of reasons. Some areas of your landscape are more accessible than others, offer better sun exposure or provide greater protection from the wind and weather. Before you start planning your garden this year, consider more than topography when evaluating where to put your plants, though.
There are plenty of articles about companion planting and other ways you can make pest and plant behavior work for you instead of against you. Here are some tactics I've used to make growing season more rewarding while keeping my blood pressure -- and my garden center bills -- down. I embrace companion planting with herbs in my garden because it's a sustainable gardening option that works.
Hey, think of it as a free layer of herbal protection against insects. All you have to do is change the seating chart a little. For example: I like planting rue near my rose bushes because it attracts lady bugs, which in turn devour encroaching aphids. I also try to plant sage near broccoli and kale because it repels white cabbage moths. Savvy gardeners have come up with lots of companion planting matchups that work for different gardening applications. Herbs play key roles in companion planting strategies. Because they have strong aromas and flavors, herbs naturally repel some particularly pesky insects and attract beneficial ones. More about this in a minute!
Use lures to attract pests away from your plants. - If you love squash but hate squash bugs, plant bright yellow flowers away from your vegetable patch. Squash bugs are attracted to yellow (because squash flowers are typically yellow) and will be lured away from your planted squash. You can then use insecticide on the non-edible flowers to keep squash bugs under better control. (Another option is to use yellow fabric or even Mylar ribbon attached to a nearby fence or tree as a lure.)
You can also use commercially available traps that rely on natural pheromones to lure a variety of bugs into small containers from which they are unable to escape. (Although this seems like an organized and efficient solution, remember, any overflow pests that don't make it into the trap will be free to roam around your garden.)
Use beneficial parasites to kill bugs. - Microscopic worms collectively called "beneficial nematodes" are available that will kill the early developmental stages of bugs like flea beetles, squash bugs, bagworms, Japanese beetles and others. You spray a water mixture containing the worms on your lawn and soil once or twice a year to keep pest populations down. The spray is colorless, odorless and won't hurt honey bees or most other beneficial insects.
Hire an army of protective reinforcements. - Another option is to purchase a live community of beneficial bugs like praying mantis or lady bugs to protect your property. Think of them as insect mercenaries guarding your borders. Yes, some do fly away, but others take up residence and do their duty just fine.
Make your own pest repellents. - If you have Japanese beetle problems, say, you can always kill a few beetles, make a "tea" of bug bits and water and leave it in a bucket. The smell will discourage new beetles from staking a claim to your rose bushes. This olfactory tactic can work for other types of bugs, too.
You've probably heard this referred to before. The three sisters are three plants that help one another thrive through the growing season: corn, climbing beans and squash. The corn provides the "pole" for the beans; the beans add nitrogen to the soil to help sustain the corn and squash; and the squash offers natural mulch and protection from moisture loss through evaporation, all while keeping weeds to a minimum by blanketing the soil with a dense, shady canopy of large leaves. Elegant. Simple. Effective.
You can find examples of three sisters gardens here: Three Sisters
Here are some popular examples of companion planting herbs that grow well together to enhance pest control without pesticides.
Okay, a list of good companion herb plant pairings is helpful, but it doesn't give you much wiggle room. Many of these pairings use one plant's pest repellent ability to protect the other plant from an insect or insects that would otherwise consider it fair game.
If some plants naturally repel certain insects, then placing those plants where you have, or figure you might have, a specific insect problem should help keep pest populations down, whether they're next to historically compatible companions or not.
If you've struggled with whitefly, knowing a plant variety whitefly avoids will help you choose a winner -- but with a little more flexibility because you can itersperse it in multiple areas across your garden to protect lots of different kinds of plants from whitefly. You can even create a border with that particular plant or herb on the leeward side of your garden to discourage flying pests from ever visiting your garden.
There are plenty of articles about companion planting and other ways you can make pest and plant behavior work for you instead of against you. Here are some tactics I've used to make growing season more rewarding while keeping my blood pressure -- and my garden center bills -- down. I embrace companion planting with herbs in my garden because it's a sustainable gardening option that works.
Good Bugs vs. Bad Bugs - The Epic Battle of Good vs. Evil
Some herb plants attract beneficial insects, while others discourage destructive insects. With a little forethought, you can make these behaviors work for you by being smart about your garden plant choices and design. This is one of the basic ideas behind companion planting. This approach is often considered an organic gardening or sustainable gardening strategy, but even if you use pesticides occasionally, the neighborly approach (as in helpful herb neighbors make a great first line defense against pests) can still help you grow healthier, happier vegetables and flowers.Hey, think of it as a free layer of herbal protection against insects. All you have to do is change the seating chart a little. For example: I like planting rue near my rose bushes because it attracts lady bugs, which in turn devour encroaching aphids. I also try to plant sage near broccoli and kale because it repels white cabbage moths. Savvy gardeners have come up with lots of companion planting matchups that work for different gardening applications. Herbs play key roles in companion planting strategies. Because they have strong aromas and flavors, herbs naturally repel some particularly pesky insects and attract beneficial ones. More about this in a minute!
Companion Planting Can Work with Other Sustainable Gardening Options
There are also other ways to beat the bugs at their own game with sustainable practices:Use lures to attract pests away from your plants. - If you love squash but hate squash bugs, plant bright yellow flowers away from your vegetable patch. Squash bugs are attracted to yellow (because squash flowers are typically yellow) and will be lured away from your planted squash. You can then use insecticide on the non-edible flowers to keep squash bugs under better control. (Another option is to use yellow fabric or even Mylar ribbon attached to a nearby fence or tree as a lure.)
You can also use commercially available traps that rely on natural pheromones to lure a variety of bugs into small containers from which they are unable to escape. (Although this seems like an organized and efficient solution, remember, any overflow pests that don't make it into the trap will be free to roam around your garden.)
Use beneficial parasites to kill bugs. - Microscopic worms collectively called "beneficial nematodes" are available that will kill the early developmental stages of bugs like flea beetles, squash bugs, bagworms, Japanese beetles and others. You spray a water mixture containing the worms on your lawn and soil once or twice a year to keep pest populations down. The spray is colorless, odorless and won't hurt honey bees or most other beneficial insects.
Hire an army of protective reinforcements. - Another option is to purchase a live community of beneficial bugs like praying mantis or lady bugs to protect your property. Think of them as insect mercenaries guarding your borders. Yes, some do fly away, but others take up residence and do their duty just fine.
Make your own pest repellents. - If you have Japanese beetle problems, say, you can always kill a few beetles, make a "tea" of bug bits and water and leave it in a bucket. The smell will discourage new beetles from staking a claim to your rose bushes. This olfactory tactic can work for other types of bugs, too.
 |
| Aphids |
The Example of the Three Sisters - A lesson in Companion Planting and Sustainable Gardening
Companion planting also works in ways beyond simple pest control. It can use a plant's native habit, color or chemical makeup to produce "cooperative" success in the garden. For example, planting a climber like beans near a tall, stable plant like corn produces a support structure for the bean without your having to put down a pole or add a trellis. This is one of the benefits of the "three sisters" approach to farming, a classic Native American example of the dynamic power of companion planting.You've probably heard this referred to before. The three sisters are three plants that help one another thrive through the growing season: corn, climbing beans and squash. The corn provides the "pole" for the beans; the beans add nitrogen to the soil to help sustain the corn and squash; and the squash offers natural mulch and protection from moisture loss through evaporation, all while keeping weeds to a minimum by blanketing the soil with a dense, shady canopy of large leaves. Elegant. Simple. Effective.
You can find examples of three sisters gardens here: Three Sisters
Here are some popular examples of companion planting herbs that grow well together to enhance pest control without pesticides.
- Asparagus with parsley or dill
- Beans with beets, lovage, corn, rosemary, larkspur or radishes
- Beets with garlic
- Cabbage with thyme, dill, chamomile, onion or mint
- Carrots with peas, radishes or tomatoes
- Celery with chives or rosemary
- Corn with beans, squash, potatoes or cucumbers
- Eggplant with thyme, mint, catnip or garlic
- Grapes with hyssop
- Leeks with carrots
- Lettuce with cucumbers or strawberries
- Melon with pigweed or summer savory
- Okra with chervil
- Peas with garlic or mint
- Peppers with carrots or bee balm
- Potatoes with cilantro
- Pumpkins with oregano
- Raspberries with garlic
- Squash with tansy
- Strawberries with sage, thyme and borage
- Tomatoes with basil or bee balm
- Turnips with peppermint or sage
- Watermelon with nasturtium (Works with other melons, too.)
Okay, a list of good companion herb plant pairings is helpful, but it doesn't give you much wiggle room. Many of these pairings use one plant's pest repellent ability to protect the other plant from an insect or insects that would otherwise consider it fair game.
If some plants naturally repel certain insects, then placing those plants where you have, or figure you might have, a specific insect problem should help keep pest populations down, whether they're next to historically compatible companions or not.
If you've struggled with whitefly, knowing a plant variety whitefly avoids will help you choose a winner -- but with a little more flexibility because you can itersperse it in multiple areas across your garden to protect lots of different kinds of plants from whitefly. You can even create a border with that particular plant or herb on the leeward side of your garden to discourage flying pests from ever visiting your garden.
Multiple companion plant varieties can be used against a single type of pest, too. For example, basil and French marigold do a good job of repelling whitefly, so if you want a grow a flowering plant, choose French marigold. If you want a culinary herb, basil will do double duty. With companion planting, there are always creative options.
What follows is a list of insects - and one pesky mammal - together with the plants they really don't like being around. These companion planting herb pairings probably won't do the same bug prevention job as a strong pesticide, though. If they could, pesticides would be obsolete. They will help control pest populations somewhat successfully without a lot of chemicals.
You can also grow these plants in bulk and use them to prepare homemade bug sprays (or noxious smoothies). Homemade sprays can be quite effective, but they need to be reapplied often.
Oh, and don't expect one puny companion herb plant to hold back the horde. Make sure your pest control plants have strong representation in the garden. It's also a good idea to place them next to vulnerable plants as well as around the perimeter of the garden and in locations where there's good air flow (so their fragrances will travel a respectable distance).
References
Cornell University Cooperative Extension. "Companion Planting." 1999
http://cceniagaracounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/companion-planting-info.pdf
Painter, Tammie. "Plants that Repel Insects." Mother Earth Living. 2010 http://www.motherearthliving.com/gardening/fresh-clips-herbs-to-repel-insects.aspx#axzz2WsGdw7rr>
Home Grown Texas. "Herbs That Repel Bugs." 2003. http://www.homegrowntexas.com/issues/NovDec03/
Alabama Cooperative Extension. "Companion Plants." Undated. http://www.aces.edu/counties/Limestone/MastGard/companions.htm
Photos
Photo 1 - Tomato Hornworm By George Bredehoft (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Tomato_Hornworm_in_hand.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ATomato_Hornworm_in_hand.jpg
Photo 2 - Aphids By Alvesgaspar (Own work (own photo)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Aphids_September_2008-1.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAphids_September_2008-1.jpg
Photo 3 - Squash Bug By Noel Feans [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Coreus_marginatus_-_Squash_Bug.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACoreus_marginatus_-_Squash_Bug.jpg
Companion Planting Herbs Pest List
 |
| Squash bug |
What follows is a list of insects - and one pesky mammal - together with the plants they really don't like being around. These companion planting herb pairings probably won't do the same bug prevention job as a strong pesticide, though. If they could, pesticides would be obsolete. They will help control pest populations somewhat successfully without a lot of chemicals.
You can also grow these plants in bulk and use them to prepare homemade bug sprays (or noxious smoothies). Homemade sprays can be quite effective, but they need to be reapplied often.
Oh, and don't expect one puny companion herb plant to hold back the horde. Make sure your pest control plants have strong representation in the garden. It's also a good idea to place them next to vulnerable plants as well as around the perimeter of the garden and in locations where there's good air flow (so their fragrances will travel a respectable distance).
For the most part, I haven't included the scientific names for the companion plants or insects, but absent any notation, you can assume I'm referring to the most common variety your likely to find in your garden or at your local nursery. Related plant cultivars may work as deterrents, but keep in mind it's a trial and error proposition.
.jpeg) |
| Cabbage worm |
- Ants - catnip, peppermint, tansy
- Aphids - chives, rue, pyrethum, mustard, dill, mint, nasturtium, coriander (cilantro), garlic, catnip,marigolds, oregano
- Asparagus beetles - calendula (pot marigold), basil, tomato plant, petunia, parsley
- Bean beetles - santolina (a particularly effective artemisia), nasturtium, summer savory, rosemary, marigold
- Black flies - garlic
- Borers - garlic, onion
- Cabbage looper - artemisias, eucalyptus, dill, hyssop, garlic
- Cabbage moths - mint, celery, nasturtium, chamomile, sage, hyssop, artemisias (like wormwood), thyme, oregano
- Cabbage worms - thyme
- Carrot fly - sage, rosemary, onion, leek
- Caterpillars (various) - garlic, bay laurel
- Cockroaches - feverfew, tansy
- Codling moths - artemisias
- Corn earworms - thyme, geranium, cosmos
- Cucumber beetles - marigold, oregano, rue radish
- Cutworms - onion
- Earwigs - wormwood
- Flea beetles - catnip, catmint (different but related to catnip), mint, rue, artemisias, sage
- Fleas - pennyroyal, yarrow, rue, lavender, sage
- Flies - basil, pennyroyal, mint, tansy, rue, wormwood, lavender
- Gnats - pennyroyal, lemon balm
- Hornworms (Tomato hornworms) - basil, petunia, marigold, dill, borage
- Japanese beetles - rue, garlic, geranium
- Leaf hoppers - pyrethum (chrysanthemum cinerariifolium)
- Mice - mint, wormwood, tansy
- Mites - dill, chives, pyrethum, onion
- Mosquitoes (or their larvae) - basil, pennyroyal, yarrow, lemongrass, geranium, tansy, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary
- Moths (various) - lavender, mugwort, rosemary, santolina, coriander (cilantro), wormwood, sweet woodruff, tansy, rosemary
- Nematodes - chives, dahlias, French marigold (There are destructive nematodes around and chives repels the good with the bad.)
- Potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) - nasturtiums, coriander (cilantro)
- Potato bugs (Stenopelmatus spp.) - horseradish
- Pumpkin beetles (various) - nasturtiums
- Slugs - sage, onions, fennel, rosemary, wormwood
- Snails - sage, onions, fennel, wormwood, rosemary
- Spider mites - coriander (cilantro), garlic, dill
- Squash beetles - nasturtium, catnip,
- Squash bugs - peppermint, dill, tansy, nasturtium
- Sticks (Phasmatodea) - sage
- Termites - catnip
- Whitefly - nasturtiums, French marigold, basil
 |
| Incompatible plant pairings |
On the Flip Side Let's Discuss Incompatible Vegetable Plant Pairings
Let's talk about "lousy neighbors" for a moment. You know, those plants that just never seem to get along. I wouldn't want you to accidentally create a plant feud in your garden.
Here are some examples of plants that don't get along well together:
Asparagus and onions/garlic/leeks:
Onions, garlic, and leeks can inhibit the growth of asparagus. Asparagus beetles are a major pest of asparagus, and some gardeners believe that strong-smelling plants like onions and garlic may help to deter them
Beans and onions/garlic/leeks:
Similar to asparagus, onions, garlic, and leeks can stunt the growth of beans. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which is beneficial for many plants, but onions, garlic, and leeks are not nitrogen-fixing and can compete with beans for nitrogen in the soil.
Brassicas (*cabbage family plants) and **nightshade family plants:
Brassicas can release chemicals into the soil that can stunt the growth of nightshades. Additionally, both brassicas and nightshades are susceptible to similar diseases, so planting them together can increase the risk of disease spread.
Corn and tomatoes:
Both corn and tomatoes are heavy feeders and can compete with each other for nutrients in the soil. Additionally, corn can attract pests like corn earworms, which can also damage tomatoes.
Cucumbers and potatoes:
Cucumbers and potatoes have similar water requirements, and planting them together can lead to competition for water. Additionally, potatoes are susceptible to a disease called late blight, which can also infect cucumbers.
Fennel and many other plants:
Fennel can release allelopathic chemicals that can inhibit the growth of many other plants. Allelopathy is the chemical interaction between plants where one plant releases chemicals that can harm or benefit the growth of another plant.
Potatoes and tomatoes:
Both plants are susceptible to the same diseases, such as blight, so planting them together can increase the risk of infection.
The examples above show how there are a number of important ways plants may or may not be compatible with one another, and offer insights about how these differences can help you make better gardening choices. It's always a good idea to research the specific needs of the plants you want to grow together before planting them in close proximity.
For more herb gardening ideas visit:
*Here's a list of some common Brassica plants:
- Broccoli, (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
- Cauliflower, (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
- Cabbage, (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
- Brussels sprouts, (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)R
- Kale, (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
- Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
- Bok choy, (Brassica rapa var. chinensis)
- Turnip, (Brassica rapa var. rapa)
- Rutabaga, (Brassica napus var. napobrassica)
- Rapeseed, (Brassica napus var. napus)
**These are just a few common examples of nightshade Plants
- Tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Eggplant, (Solanum melongena)
- Potato, (Solanum tuberosum)
- Bell pepper, (Capsicum annuum)
- Chili pepper, (Capsicum species)
- Tomatillo, (Physalis philadelphica)
- Ground cherry, (Physalis spp.)
- Goji berry, (Lycium barbarum)
- Petunia, (Petunia spp.)
- Tobacco, (Nicotiana tabacum)
References
Cornell University Cooperative Extension. "Companion Planting." 1999
http://cceniagaracounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/companion-planting-info.pdf
Painter, Tammie. "Plants that Repel Insects." Mother Earth Living. 2010 http://www.motherearthliving.com/gardening/fresh-clips-herbs-to-repel-insects.aspx#axzz2WsGdw7rr>
Home Grown Texas. "Herbs That Repel Bugs." 2003. http://www.homegrowntexas.com/issues/NovDec03/
Alabama Cooperative Extension. "Companion Plants." Undated. http://www.aces.edu/counties/Limestone/MastGard/companions.htm
Photos
Photo 1 - Tomato Hornworm By George Bredehoft (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Tomato_Hornworm_in_hand.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ATomato_Hornworm_in_hand.jpg
Photo 2 - Aphids By Alvesgaspar (Own work (own photo)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Aphids_September_2008-1.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAphids_September_2008-1.jpg
Photo 3 - Squash Bug By Noel Feans [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Coreus_marginatus_-_Squash_Bug.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACoreus_marginatus_-_Squash_Bug.jpg
I was looking for a list like this last spring. Thank you!
ReplyDelete