Mother Earth’s Garden

5 Ways to Attract Beneficial Insects To Your Garden

by linette on April 6th, 2008

Everyone needs more beneficial insects in their garden. From bees to butterflies, lacewings, praying mantis, and ladybugs how can you make more of these garden helpers visit your little corner of the world?

This praying mantis lived in the borders around my house last summer. He liked to hang out in the thick cover of iris’ around the outside faucet.

I think his chosen spot provided him with plenty of bugs, a source of moisture, and cover.

Here are 5 ways to attract more beneficial insects to your garden.

1. The number one way to attract beneficial insects to your garden, do not use pesticides! Most pesticides do not discriminate between garden pests and beneficial insects. Pesticides destroy everything in their path.

2. Provide the proper food for the type of beneficial you’re trying to attract. Bees need nectar, so plant fragrant, tubular flowers. Grow a variety of flowers of all different sizes, to keep blooms in your garden all summer long.

3. Provide a proper habitat. Create a place for your beneficial insects to thrive, they may enjoy hedges, or evergreens to provide them with cover from enemies.

4. Cover the ground with organic matter such as mulch, or compost. It helps hold in moisture, and provides additional cover.

5. If it’s been dry for several days place saucers of water filled with pebbles for them to drink from. Don’t let water sit for more than a couple days, because you don’t want to attract unwanted insects such as mosquitoes.

Beneficial insects will find your garden this summer if you provide them with a friendly habitat to live in.

Image: (c)Linette Gerlach

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