What to plant to keep pests out of garden
Nathan Sanders
Published Apr 10, 2026
Marigolds. Marigolds are great for helping repel aphids and mosquitoes, as well as small animals like rabbits. … Petunias. … Geraniums. … Lemongrass. … Rosemary. … Nasturtiums. … Chrysanthemums. … Pitcher plants.
What plant keeps bugs away from garden?
Marigolds The marigold is one of the most well-known insect-repelling plants and with good reason — they have a scent that will keep pests like mosquitoes, nematodes like cabbage worms, and other pests away. Plant marigolds to attract beneficial insects that attack and kill aphids.
What to plant with tomatoes to keep bugs away?
Don’t just stop at planting Marigolds with your tomatoes. For further protection from pest bugs, you can also plant basil, beans, bee balm, borage, sweet alyssum, chives, garlic, nasturtium, mint, anise, onion, and parsley.
What plants drive away pests?
- Citronella grass.
- Lemongrass.
- Marigolds.
- Chrysanthemums.
- Petunias.
How do I repel pests in my vegetable garden?
- Aphids: chives, coriander, nasturtium.
- Ants: tansy.
- Asparagus beetle: pot marigold.
- Bean beetle: marigold, nasturtium, rosemary.
- Cabbage moth: hyssop, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, southernwood, tansy, thyme.
- Carrot fly: rosemary, sage.
Do marigolds keep bugs away from tomato plants?
In the long lore of gardeners, the marigold is thought to do something to help tomatoes avoid pests. New research finds that it isn’t just lore. … In a couple of greenhouse trials, they discovered that pots of marigolds do in fact deter whiteflies, small insects that are usually found on the underside of plant leaves.
How do marigolds help your garden?
Marigolds actually attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps and lacewings which all prey on harmful garden insects reducing the amount of damaging insects found around your garden. Marigolds also help eliminate nematodes, with toxins found within the plant.
Do marigolds repel bugs?
Marigolds – The marigold is probably the most well-known plant for repelling insects. French marigolds repel whiteflies and kill bad nematodes. … If you choose marigolds for your garden they must be scented to work as a repellant. And while this plant drives away many bad bugs, it also attracts spider mites and snails.What flowers keep bugs away from vegetables?
- Marigolds. Marigolds are great for helping repel aphids and mosquitoes, as well as small animals like rabbits. …
- Petunias. …
- Geraniums. …
- Lemongrass. …
- Rosemary. …
- Nasturtiums. …
- Chrysanthemums. …
- Pitcher plants.
Can you plant tomatoes and zucchini together? Yes, you can plant tomatoes and zucchini together just as they are often put together in a ratatouille. Both tomatoes and zucchini are warm-season vegetables with similar growing conditions.
Article first time published onHow do I protect my garden from bugs?
- Good Sanitation. Practicing proper sanitation is one of the leading ways to keep your garden both disease and pest free. …
- Sturdy Fences Make Good Neighbors. via premier1supplies.com. …
- Add Good Insects. …
- Hand-Pick the Big Bugs. …
- Kick the Sickly Plants Out. …
- Try Natural Sprays. …
- Row Covers. …
- Cloche Your Plants.
What can you not plant with marigolds?
Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles. Beans and cabbage are listed as bad companion plants for marigolds.
What should marigolds not be planted near?
Marigold – French Marigolds (Tagetes patula) produce chemicals that repel whitefly, Mexican bean beetles, root knot nematodes, and root lesion nematodes. Avoid planting them near beans.
What eats marigolds at night?
Slugs eat large holes in mature marigold leaves and will completely devour young plants. You won’t commonly see slugs feeding on your marigolds because slugs are nocturnal, but you may see the slime trails they leave behind. Wait until after dark and, with a flashlight, pick off the slugs.
How close should I plant marigolds to tomatoes?
Growing Tomatoes and Marigolds Together Allow 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) between the marigold and the tomato plant, which is close enough for the marigold to benefit the tomato, but allows plenty of space for the tomato to grow.
Do chrysanthemums repel bugs?
Chrysanthemums (Mums) – Repels ticks, fleas, ants, Japanese beetles and many other insects. Mums contain a neurotoxin called Pyrethrin, that kills insects, yet is safe for animals. Therefore, many insects tend to avoid this plant.
Can vegetables and flowers be planted together?
Instead, you can plant flowers and vegetables together, using the flowers to attract beneficial insects and birds that help keep vegetable pests under control. This doesn’t just mean planting a few flowers among your vegetable garden. … If you fill in the empty spaces between plants, you reduce space for weeds to grow.
Will marigolds come back every year?
The popular types of marigolds for garden planting are all annuals, sprouting, flowering – and dying in the same year. But they may come back the following year thanks to self-seeding.
Do zinnias repel bugs?
Zinnias help lure predator bugs into a fall garden where they eat destructive pests. Plant zinnias near cauliflower to attract ladybugs, which eat many of the insects that attack cauliflower. Nasturtium are bright and cherry flowers that also serve a purpose. They can repel beetles as well as aphids and squash bugs.
Does basil repel aphids?
Basil– Repels flies, mosquitoes, carrot fly and white flies. Borage- Repels tomato hornworm and cabbage worms. … Dill- Repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, cabbage looper and small white. Fennel- Repels aphids, slugs and snails.
Why should you not plant cucumbers near tomatoes?
Cucumbers’ and Tomatoes’ Shared Diseases Phytophthora blight and root rot are more serious issues as these disease pathogens can ravage both cucumbers and tomatoes. Plants can be treated with commercial fungicides as a preventive measure, but it’s better to just use good cultivation practices.
What can you not plant with cucumbers?
Two plants to avoid planting near cucumbers are melons and potatoes. Sage is not recommended as a companion plant near cucumbers either. While sage shouldn’t be planted near cucumbers, oregano is a popular pest control herb and will do well as a companion plant.
How do I protect my garden from critters?
- Step One: Identify The Culprit. …
- Step Two: Fence It. …
- Step Three: Choose Less Tasty Plants. …
- Step Four: Protect New Plants. …
- Step Five: Garden In Pots And Raised Beds. …
- Step Six: Don’t Be Too Tidy. …
- Step Seven: Contain Your Compost. …
- Step Eight: Scare Them Away.
Do marigolds attract bees?
Marigolds are attractive to bees provided you choose a variety with open centers, so insects can easily find the yellow florets. Little ‘Gem’ marigolds fit this description, but they are not as long-blooming as many French marigolds, which are the preferred type among pollinators in my garden.
Do marigolds spread?
Do marigolds spread? Marigolds are rapidly growing plants and most varieties are self-seeding, which means they will drop seeds and spread throughout your yard or garden. Limit the ability to self-seed by deadheading before blooms go to seed.
Do marigolds attract aphids?
Not only do marigolds attract aphids (yellow is their favorite color), the flowers also are an open invitation to the leaf hopper, a tiny sucking insect that also carries a virus that leaves the plant wilted and stunted, a condition known as ”yellow aster.
What pairs well with marigolds?
Marigolds come in vibrant yellow, red, and orange hues, which can be beautifully paired with complementary colors of other flowers in the garden landscape. Try interplanting marigolds with allium, coreopsis, roses, salvia, bachelor buttons, lavender, and geranium plants for eye-catching appeal.
What flowers go well together in a garden?
- Geraniums and Roses. Roses come in a variety of colors. …
- Coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans. …
- Astilbe and Hosta. …
- Hydrangeas and Daylilies. …
- Daffodils and Amsonia. …
- Hibiscus and Bee Balm. …
- Iris and Phlox. …
- Tulips and Hyacinth.
Can you plant basil and marigolds together?
Basil cannot be planted next to other herbs, like sage or rue. Marigolds. Marigolds and basil are a natural insect-repelling pair, so plant them nearby one another to double up on a potent aromatic shield.