One of the most beautiful and nature-friendly ways of discouraging pests from visiting your garden is through plants. On your next trip to the nursery, it’s worth keeping your eye out for the specific plants that keep bugs away.
Bob Gilbert, a board-certified entomologist at Blue Sky Pest Control, notes that the aromatics (the chemicals we can smell) of particular pants can be beneficial for this cause. But for your efforts to pay off, these plants have to be in close range to the ones normally affected by pests.
“One marigold plant isn’t going to protect your tomato garden,” he says. “You need rows of marigolds or other plants to do the job.”
If you’re intrigued in gathering up protective plants, take a look at this list of 20 below.
Meet the Expert
Bob Gilbert is a board-certified entomologist at Blue Sky Pest Control.
