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Question: I’ve read some opinions on different blogs stating that annuals aren’t a great choice because the methods of producing them aren’t always ecologically friendly and because they take a lot of water and fertilizer …

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Home » Weekly Tips

Tip of the Week: Plant This to Repel Pests

Submitted by on January 27, 2009 – 12:01 amNo Comment

Certain plants repel pests. Planting them in or near your vegetable garden will reduce the need for pesticides.

  • Grow marigolds among vegetables. Marigold roots secrete a substance that destroys nematodes and eel worms.
  • Include garlic (Allium sativum) in the vegetable garden, or even garlic’s cousins, the ornamental alliums. Alliums of all sorts exude enzymes from their roots that are toxic to many pests.
  • Rue, mint, tansy, lavender, sage, rosemary and wormwood all deter a variety of pests. so include these herbs.
  • Nettles attract early aphids that provide food for emerging ladybugs. So the nettles keep the aphids off other plants, and encourage natural predators.
  • Nasturtiums are irresistible to aphids, so use them as a decoy. Plant them well away from the vegetable garden as the aphids’ private dining room.

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