Complementary Companions

It sounds a bit like a party, doesn't it? I certainly celebrate when I don't have to shoo away pests. Helpful hosts and complementary companion plant help our gardens thrive and there are two I always plant in my vegetable garden.

Sweet Alyssum is a little flower that puts in a lot of work! Not only do they attract bees, but also hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and tachinid flies. Flies and wasps don't sound like fun guests, but they are also important pollinators and feed on pests like aphids and tomato hornworms. Don't worry, they tend to leave us humans alone!

Marigolds have been a staple in gardens for many, many years. Not only do butterflies enjoy the bright blooms, but they also invite one of my favorite beneficial insects to the garden: the lacewing.

While not the prettiest, and sometimes a little smelly (I've noticed they tend to smell a bit like moth balls), these guys LOVE aphids. Which is great, because I don't. Last year in The Waystation aphids took over some milkweed plants and it was awful to deal with. Since milkweed is a host plant for Monarchs, chemical insect removal (even organic) wasn't an option.

That left me with one option: manual removal. I was out in the garden with a wet Qtip and a jar of water mixed with castille soap. I'd swipe them away and then dunk them in the soapy water. Obviously not a fun time! However, nature has its balance and lots of lacewing eggs appeared.

They are white/green in appearance and are attached to the surface of the leaf by a thin thread. I was definitely much happier when these guys arrived! Not only were they helpful in The Waystation, but I saw many flying around my vegetable garden too.

So as we plan our gardens this time of year, don't forget to add some companion plants! Need help planning? Or have other gardening questions? Don't hesitate to reach out via the contact page.