When it comes to finding a simple , all - born method acting to discourage pests from the garden , we may have hit the proverbial “ Home Run ” this class .
Each and every grow time of year , we know to try out a brace of new experiment in the garden .
For one , it really avail keep gardening merriment and fresh for us .
After all , just like in life , if you do n’t try something different , how can you expect to learn anything new ?
Now , the true be told , some of our past experiment have quite honestly failed miserably . And many others never really live up to what we were hoping for .
But sometimes , every once in awhile , a garden experimentation works like thaumaturgy !
And that is exactly what has happened this twelvemonth with our big blossom and herbaceous plant companion planting experimentation .
As you will see below , it has been nothing short of awing in helping to discourage destructive pests from the garden .
But it has also had a Brobdingnagian encroachment on keeping mosquito and sting fly out as well . And if you have ever been assail by either while working in the garden , you know how annoying and sore they can be .
But perhaps maybe just of all , our little planting experiment has added some middling awesome colour to the garden too !
Growing Flowers & Herbs To Deter Pests
For this year ’s experiment , we tried our hand at planting marigolds , nasturtium and Basil the Great in a orotund portion of the garden . See : Our Big Garden experimentation For 2019
We institute some in pots and container within the rows . While others we sow directly in the ground by the plant life . We also seed the outside western bound of our garden fencing with marigold as well . ( French Marigoldsare among the best in repelling pestilence )
In age by , we have had an ever - increasing number of cabbage and tomato hornworm attacks on the garden .
It seemed with each successive time of year , the job was continuing to acquire . That is , until this class !
In fact , as of today ’s piece of writing , in the expanse of the garden where we have planted basil , marigolds and genus Nasturtium , we have had zero attacks from either pest . And I imply ZERO !
In improver , our veggie plants are also free of the small-scale folio harm that unremarkably occurs at the hands of aphids , mallet and other garden pests .
But here is the kicker : We allow for a few parts of our garden innocent from the companion planting experimentation . And in those areas , it is awesome how to see just how different the results have been .
The Proof Is In The Peppers
It ’s comical , but in previous years , we rarely had and write out with hornworms touching our peppercorn plants . In fact , both Mary and I can only call in one or two times we have ever found one a pepper plant .
But as part of our trial this year , we left the Madagascar pepper row free of any companion plants .
And guess what ? The hornworms and a few other pest have decide they now care them .
Perhaps more telling , the industrial plant in those few rows , although still healthy and thriving , have more leaf price than any other plants in the garden .
The Mosquito And Biting Fly Disappearance
As an added welfare , basil , nasturtiums and marigolds are all well - known to help dissuade pests such as mosquito , flies and aphid too .
And in a year of inordinate rain and moisture where you would expect mosquitoes to be speculative , they have been anything but . specially in the garden .
But maybe best of all , we have yet to had a sting from those annoying triangular - determine summer biting flies !
One thing is for sure , I suppose it ’s safe to say that we will be planting these rattling blossom and herbs all over our garden in years to come .
Here is to using comrade planting as an incredibly natural and effective means to discourage pests .
Happy Gardening ! Jim and Mary .
Jim and Mary Competti have been write gardening , DIY and formula article and leger for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all thing gardening and love to travel in their spare meter .
