In Nature, the balance is maintained when beneficial predator insects, birds and animals keep insect pests at non-threatening levels.
Lady birds, lacewings, native bees and birds feed on the pollen and nectar of herb flowers, which provide long term food and habitat for beneficial insects because they remain in flower for many months. Frogs, bats and lizards also eat large numbers of insects, but not always just the pest insects!
By interplanting a selection of flowering herbs attractive to predator insects with your vegetables, fruit trees, roses, perennials, and shrubs, you can eliminate the use of harnmful chemical pesticides. Borage, dill, German chamomile, nasturtium, pineapple sage and elder, all flower early and will attract birds and bees too.
By not using chemmicals in our backyards, we are taking a small step for the planet and a large one for the future well being of our family, friends, pets and wildlife.
The well known insect repelling abilities of herbs have been part of Northern Hemisphere folklore for some time. Unfortunately some Australian and American garden pests are somewhat unaffected by European plants and have often ignored them.
In both the US and Australia, some pest insects have been seen dining on these insect repelling plants from North of the Equator. As a result, insect repelling plants from Europe have a rather sluggish reputation elsewhere in the World.
Modern research into biological pest control shows that attracting beneficial insects with flowering herbs is a double whammy, and more effective than relying on companion plants only. Using companion planting, attracting garden predators, and using plant based repellant sprays as a last resort, is integrated plant pest control at it’s very best.
Many herbs contain substances which protect them from pest attack. Unfortunately these compounds do not protect neighbouring plants. However if these ingredients are extracted from the herb and used as a gardening spray, they will kill or repell pests.
There is now some evidence which shows that compost tea is a very useful fungicide, and could be added to any homemade garden pest control sprays.
Sprays made from poison producing plants have been used for centuries, and until you achieve a balance between beneficial insects and garden pests, you may need to make your own spray to minimise damage to your plants.
Remember that any spray made from a plant poison is toxic, so use caution, allow a withholding period, and store sprays in a well-labelled glass container, not metal or plastic.
Be careful with pyrethrum. While it is effective on many pest insects, it can kill bees and ladybirds. Use at night, and be selective. Don’t spray flowering plants that will attract bees. Dried pyrethrum flower heads can be crumbled and sprinkled over vulnerable plants.
To make a pyrethrum spray, steep 2 good handfuls of dried, powdered flower heads in a litre of hot water for an hour or so. Puree or strain, and spray.
*General pesticide and fungicide for: aphids, caterpillars, thrips and blackspot.
Gently simmer 500g Elder leaves in3.5L water for 30 minutes. Replace water lost as steam. Strain, add a drop of detergent to help contact with the plant, and spray.
*Another general fungicide for mildew, blackspot, damping off and rust. Boil together some chamomile flowers, chive leaves, elder leaves, horseradish leaves and casuarina leaves. Let stand for an hour, then spray.
*General pest control. 2 parts feverfew flowers, 1 part pyrethrum flowers, kerosene, 2 drops sesame oil. Chop flowers, soak in kerosine and stand overnight in a dark cool place. Strain and dilute one part liquid to six parts water. Add sesame oil and spray.
*For ants, spray or paint pennyroyal oil on tracks and nests. Use ½ cup of Pennyroyal leaves 1 cup of Safflower oil, combine pennyroyal and oil in a blender. Bottle and stand for a day in a warm place.
*Chopped spring onions and chillies simmered together makes a good, safe and simple insecticidal spray.
*Three large spoonfuls of quassia chips boiled in 3 litres of water makes another useful general insecticide.
*Another good one to deter possums, rabbits, snails and slugs. This recipe will also kill aphids, bean fly and white fly. 1 cup of chillies, 1 cup of wormwood leaves, 6 cups of water. Simmer chillies and wormwood with 6 cups of water. Stand for one hour and spray. Chillies are hot stuff, so do not allow contact with eyes or skin!
*Pure soap such as Sunlight used at 10g per litre of spray is an effective wetting agent, and 5ml of coconut oil per litre of spray is effective for helping the pesticide to stick to plants.
There are many other plants that can be used for making sprays. If you are experimenting, try not to use those that are highly poisonous. An insect deterrent is always better than a poison. Remember that using companion planting tecniques, attracting garden predators, and using plant based repellants, and poison sprays as a very last resort, is the most effective garden plant pest control program there is.
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