What a great article! The only caution I would throw in is to be
careful what ornamentals you decide to add to attract beneficials.
Some ornamental grasses, etc. can be very invasive - easy seed or
rhizome spread - and ruin the balance a conscientious gardener is
hoping to achieve. Native plants also offer the added benefit of
having evolved in the area (the ultimate locals, you could say), and
so are in tune with the predators and pollinators the gardener is
hoping to entice.
In My Garden Blog
Northern & Central Midwest
May 21, 2009
By
Kate Jerome,
Pleasant Prairie, WI
Chinese cabbage blossoms are a direct draw for beneficial wasps.
Bring in the Beneficials
With all the talk these days about being "easier" on the earth, many of us are re-thinking our use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. The key to growing a successful garden without too much intervention is to help the garden reach an ecological balance.
One of the critical parts of this balance is to have a garden filled with beneficial insects. These insects prey on the pests that cause problems, and a good balance of predator to prey keeps your garden healthy.
So, how do you get these great bugs into your garden? The answer is not purchasing and releasing them into your garden, but rather planting things that attract them. They are out there, but may just need a little prompting to spend time in your garden.
Plant for Nectar and Pollen
First of all, beneficial insects need nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein) from flowering plants in order to have enough energy to search for prey and to reproduce. The more variety, the better a situation for them.
There is actually research showing that some flowers are much better sources of nectar and pollen to sustain beneficial insects than others. An added benefit is that any insects that are attracted to flower pollen will also pollinate fruit and vegetable crops and increase yields.
Here is a rundown of some ornamental plants that are easy to grow and will bring in those garden helpers.
Cornflower. Cornflowers supposedly release nectar from the leaves even when not blooming. The nectar has a very high sugar content that is attractive to flower flies, ladybugs, lacewings and beneficial wasps.
Sweet alyssum. Sweet alyssum, the fragrant edging for flower beds, is fast-growing and weed-smothering, and is highly attractive to aphid-eating flower flies. Commercial growers even used it as a cover crop between rows of vegetables because it brings in so many tiny beneficial wasps that prey on many vegetable pests.
Mustard-family flowers. Any plant in the mustard family is a draw for beneficial wasps. You can tell a member of this family because the flowers have four petals. Let your radishes and Chinese cabbage go to flower and you'll help out your garden. Arugula, mustard, and many of the Chinese greens are also in this family.
Borage. Borage, with its bright blue clusters of edible, cucumber-flavored flowers, is a favorite for green lacewings to lay their eggs. Lacewing larvae make short work of aphids, scale, and other small pests.
Cup plant. Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) is a tall native of the prairie whose leaves wrap around stems, forming a deep cup that collects dew and rainwater for beneficial insects and small birds.
Golden marguerite. Golden marguerite is a long-blooming perennial with bright yellow daisies that attract a host of beneficial such as ladybugs, lacewings, flower flies, tachinid flies, and wasps.
Fennel, parsley. Fennel and parsley flowers are attractive to nectar-feeding beneficials, and they are also host plants for the caterpillars of butterflies.
Ornamental grasses. Lastly, ornamental grasses are favorites not only for nectar and pollen, but also for summer shelter and overwintering sites. Research has shown that one square yard of ornamental grass crown can hold more than 1,500 predators such as ground beetles, ladybugs and other predators. Who knew?
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Comments on Bring in the Beneficials
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We welcome your questions and comments about this column. If you have gardening questions unrelated to the column, please ask them on our message boards.
Joan Bailey, Popcorn Homestead
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Kate
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Joan - you are absolutely right about invasive grasses, especially
when they are planted in very fertile soil in cultivated gardens.
They tend not to be quite as invasive when the soil conditions are
more harsh. It's a good wake-up call to always check out whatever
plants you introduce into a garden. And natives are usually pretty
safe!
Feroz
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Hi, I am new vegitable gardern grower. I have planted Beans - the
plants are doing well, except for some insects eating the leaves. I
have no idea what insects these could be. Please advise how I can
control this menace. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in
advance
Kate
Feroz - Good for you - starting to garden! In order to figure out
what is munching on your beans, you will need to collect one of the
insects and take it to your local county extension office for
correct identification. You can also search the web for insect
photos, but that might be a long process. Do a search on this
website for problems that might arise with beans and maybe you will
find an answer. I wish I could help, but diagnosis is almost
impossible without seeing the pest.