Companion planting is a way of planting in which you inter-plant different varieties of plants to enhance growth or aid in pest control. Companion planting is based on years of experience passed down through the generations and some scientific studies.

Over all, companion planting is simply about plants helping each other- to grow better, to fend off pest and to taste better. Some plants do better when planted with a certain type of neighbor, and some should not be placed in close proximity to each other.

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How can companion planting help you fight your garden pests? Here’s a list of 16 ways to get the most out of your companion planting to control pests.

 

16 Ways to Use Companion Planting for Natural Pest Control

 

1. If your beans are struggling with Mexican Bean Larvae, try mixing in some marigold plants in your rows. Marigolds can help with a number of pests including cabbage worms and aphids. Sprinkle them throughout your garden!

 

2. Interplant celery with your cauliflower to help repel the white cabbage butterfly.

 

how to use companion planting to control pests

 

3. Planting cucumber with your corn is mutually beneficial. The cucumber plants will help keep the raccoons off of your corn, while the corn will help reduce wilt in your cucumbers.

 

4. Plant radishes in your cucumber hills- just a couple- and leave them there all season. This will help protect your cucumbers against cucumber beetles. This also works with squash and melons that are attacked by the striped cucumber beetle.

If you want to know more about companion planting with cucumbers, check out my article on The Best Cucumber Companion Plants for Your Garden.

 

potato beetle and larvae

 

5. Growing beans among your eggplant will help repel the Colorado potato beetle.

Read more about companion planting with eggplant here: Best Companion Plants for Eggplant

 

6. Mix parsley into your carrot rows to help repel the carrot fly.

 

Related Reading: Get Rid of These Garden Pests Naturally!

 

squash bug adult

 

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7. Grow nasturtiums with your squash to help keep that dreaded squash bug away.

Read more about companion planting with your squash here: The Best Squash Companion Plants for Your Garden

 

8. Put tomato plants in your asparagus bed after the early spears have be harvested to keep the asparagus beetles away. Plant the tomatoes on the side of the bed, leaving the asparagus intact- don’t cut it!

Learn more about the companion planting with asparagus here: The Best Asparagus Companion Plants

 

spide mites on plant

 

9. Garlic planted with your tomatoes can help with red spider mites. Read more about How to Get Rid of Spider Mites Naturally!

 

10. Grow your basil alongside your tomato rows for insect control as well as flavor enhancement.

 

tomato hornworm with white parasitic wasp eggs on it's back

 

11. Oregano can be planted with broccoli to help repel the cabbage butterfly.

 

12. Sage is also helpful to all brassicas by protecting them from the white cabbage butterfly. It is also helpful to carrots since it protects them from the carrot fly.

 

13. Thyme deters the cabbage worm, so it is good placed in your rows of cabbage, broccoli, kale, and other brassicas.

 

cabbage filled with holes eaten by pests

 

14. Wormwood is a repellent for a number of pests such as moths, flea beetles and cabbage moth butterfly. But it is best as a border plant since most plants do not like growing near it. On another note, wormwood is also great for natural pest control in your livestock. We feed it to our non-pregnant goats and our chickens for a natural way to fight intestinal worms.

 

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15. Alternate rows of bush beans and rows of potatoes for a mutual relationship. Potatoes protect the beans from the Mexican bean beetles while the beans help keep away the Colorado potato beetle.

 

16. Add calendula to your tomatoes and asparagus (see #8) to deter tomato hornworm and asparagus beetles.

 

Check out my Ultimate Guide to Companion Planting for more information on how companion planting works. Have you tried companion planting? I’d love to hear your experiences!