Nature has its own ways of keeping everything in balance and your garden should be no different.

By using various methods that nature offers us, we spend less time dealing with pests and more time gardening.

The problem with chemical pesticides is the fact that we are consuming them when we eat foods that are sprayed with them and there are known health issues related just to their use.

Yes, pest control will always be a constant war over your garden and the bounty it provides, but nature provides us with an arsenal of tools, such as predators, plants, essential oils, and more.

There are several different flowering plants that are a great pest deterrent, nice to look at, and make a nice garden border.

Adding bird feeders in and around your garden will attract birds and in turn, they will also eat any bugs that they see in your garden.

There are several common insects that you want in your garden that will eat other insects as well as their larvae, such as ladybugs, praying mantises, ground beetles, parasitic wasps, and some flies.

Knowing how to attract these predators is much better than the next option.

Buying some carnivorous insects can help to deal with any large infestation of pests, but that can take some time, and hopefully, they will make the journey through the shipping process.

Attracting the right kind of insects can be the difference between a thriving healthy garden and a successful bug buffet.

Planting a variety of different plants will help to attract the right amount of different predators to your garden.

Praying mantis is a great predator to have in any garden but they are attracted by woody evergreen shrubs.

This is because they only live for one year and prefer to lay their eggs in shrubs. Only one or two shrubs will be needed around a food garden.

To attract small parasitic wasps and flies, plants in the carrot family are known for this.

• Caraway
• Coriander
• Dill
• Fennel
• Bishop’s Flower
• Queen Anne’s Lace
• Toothpick Ammi

To attract ladybugs and soldier beetles, plants in the aster family are known for this.

• Blanketflower
• Coneflower
• Coreopsis
• Cosmos
• Golden Marguerite
• Goldenrod
• Signet Marigold
• Sunflower
• Tansy
• Yarrow

Companion plants should be planted both in your garden as well as a border around your garden for best results.

Many different herbs and plants can be used as a pest deterrent in your garden, consider using garlic.

This aromatic onion relative is an effective deterrent against aphids that feed on lettuce and leafy greens.

Basil is known to attract beneficial insects while repelling pests like white flies, aphids, and cucumber beetles.

Other herbs such as cilantro, sage, thyme, rosemary, mint, and lemongrass, but we suggest using lemongrass as a border because they can grow quite large and repels insects.

Marigolds are an excellent plant to use as a border because they produce no food, they have nice blooms that attract pollinators, and they deter some pests such as nematodes while attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs who eat aphids.

The best time to apply it is after a light rain or in the early morning when there is still dew on the ground. If you want, you can also lightly water the ground before use.

Make sure not to apply it before a rains because you don’t want it to get washed away, if this happens then it needs to be reapplied.

If needed, you can also mix 2 cups of diatomaceous earth per gallon of water and spray the solution on any effect areas. This is helpful for larger areas of treatment.

When applying to small areas, just sprinkle a few tablespoons over the affected area and let it dry.

Follow this procedure every week for effective pest control and repeat this treatment as necessary if the issue persists.

If the pest infestation is not visible, you can apply it directly to the soil when it is dry so it can get in the cracks and crevices.

It is highly recommended to wear a mask when applying the powder because the dust can irritate the mucous membranes.

Some essential oils are toxic or stinky to insects, so they’re effective repellents or pesticides, such as orange, lemongrass, and cedarwood are all highly effective.

Tea tree oil, for example, destroys insect exoskeletons. Cedarwood interferes with insects’ neurological functions and works well against aphids and slugs.

Neem oil acts as an effective insecticide and repels more than 200 types of garden-destroying insects. It is also an anti-fungal and supports the soil.

Thyme oil is particularly effective against spider mites and beetles. It interferes with the pest hormones and deters females from laying their eggs.

Clove oil works as a fungus preventative because it contains eugenol, which causes the cells of some fungus species to break down.

Rosemary repels aphids, flea beetles, cabbage butterflies, and more. You can also spray rosemary oil on your pots to discourage pests from attacking your plants. Its fragrance is also a natural butterfly attractant.

Lavender is well-known for repelling mosquitoes and cabbage loopers but the scent of lavender will also attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Orange is good for repelling aphids, beetles, squash bugs, and ants while attracting pollinators.

Using 15 – 20 drops per oil in a spray bottle and mixing it with water is a great natural insecticide. Just remember to shake the bottle before every use.

Insecticidal soap is an easy-to-make remedy that can be formulated with a few household ingredients.

One recipe calls for one cup of organic vegetable oil, a tablespoon of organic soap, and a tablespoon of dishwashing soap.

Be sure to use a natural soap that does not contain bleach or degreasers.

You can also use castile soap, which contains a milder formula that is safer for your plants.

Depending on how many plants you want to spray, one quart should be enough.

Insecticidal soap is formulated for a short-lived residual action. This means that insects must contact the soap for it to be effective.

Repeat applications may be needed every 4 to 7 days and excessive soap application may cause leaf damage.

Insecticidal soap is formulated to kill a variety of insects, including aphids and other soft-bodied pests.

It kills these pests by disrupting their cell membranes and removing protective waxes on their skin. It’s also effective against immature larvae and eggs.

Planting sacrificial crops or trap crops like sunflowers or nettles will protect your vegetables from cabbage white caterpillars but they will bring in aphids.

Nasturtiums are known to bring in aphids and whiteflies, chervil will bring in slugs, and radishes will bring in flea beetles and root flies.

These crops should be mixed with crops that will bring in beneficial predatory insects to not create a breeding ground for the wrong type of insect.

Lady bugs or lady beetles are attracted to beans, cilantro, caraway, coriander, chives, dandelions, dill, fennel, and garlic.

Keeping animals out of your garden may be as difficult if not more difficult than insects, but there are ways.

Sometimes erecting a simple fence is all that is needed, but other times it needs to be done.

To keep deer out of your garden, sprinkle dried blood meal as a border around your garden and you can also sprinkle it between your rows.

This will also help to keep out rabbits and groundhogs.

This will need to be reapplied every 7 to 10 days for best results.

Red pepper flake is something that most critters don’t like and spreading it around your garden as a border will help.

The smell of different citrus fruits is a nasty smell to many different animals, therefore using the peels of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit can be a good barrier around your garden.

Using plants with thorns and other irritating hairs like nettle will keep out hungry critters.

Black raspberries and blackberries are a good choice for protecting your plants from critters because of the thorns on the vines, they make a nice border around your garden and produce food.

You can also use essential oils and reapply every 3 to 4 days and after every time it rains.

Another method is the use of urine from predators like coyotes, which can be purchased at garden centers and on the internet.

Another option is an ultrasonic pest repellent, which is effective against deer, skunks, raccoons, and other animals.