Garden expert shares tips to fight pests with plants

CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson has tips on how to control pests or keep them out of your garden and outdoor spaces.

Warmer weather ahead of the May long weekend has shoppers like Kit Slipec thinking about her garden.

“I am looking for tomatoes, strawberries and petunias,” she told CTV News Edmonton while perusing the greenhouse at Classic Landscapes on Wednesday.

“It just feels good. I like the dirt. I like to be outside in the summer and it gives me something to do. It’s nice,” Slipec said about her love for gardening. “I like the flowers.”

But with blooming flowers and growing fruit and vegetables beds come pests.

Perry Stothart, a horticulturalist with the garden centre in south Edmonton, says there are a few ways to combat unwanted mosquitoes and aphids - by fighting pests with plants.

“Mosquitoes aren’t fans of the smell that marigolds put off, so they’re a really good idea, especially in those areas where maybe we’re entertaining on the deck or even on our vegetable gardens,” Stothart said.

He added that other plants like citronella and lavender can also help ward off the blood-suckers, as well as herbs like basil, thyme, mint and sage – which have extra uses in the kitchen.

“The benefit of herbs is we can use them in our cooking and stuff. So whether we have container gardening or window boxes, something that we can easily access, and also keep the mosquitoes at bay.”

Stothart said it is not necessary to grow pest-fighting plants in the ground. A container garden works just as well and can be moved where you need it in your balcony or yard, but will use less soil and need more water to beat the summer heat.

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As for the thousands of varieties of aphids that can take over your garden, Stothart said nasturtiums are a good option.

“Nasturtiums work a bit differently in that they attract aphids, and so instead of being on your vegetables and sucking the life out of them, they hang out on the nasturtiums,” he explained.

“They also encourage pollinators to come in, and some of these pollinators and other things like ladybugs will help control aphids.”

He added that quelling aphids will also help against ants who are attracted to the “sugary honeydew” aphids make.

“When you see ants, a lot of times it’s an aphid issue. So if you can help control the aphids, the ants won’t be as attracted to that area.”

But not all bugs are bad. Stothart said bees and butterflies make perfect partners for your garden.

“Those pollinator presences will make your plants grow better. It’ll make your fruit and vegetable production better,” he said, while adding that bees are attracted to yellow and purple flowering plants.

Perfect for Slipec who puts lavender near her patio door for their pretty petals.

“They’re purple. I like purple and apparently it helps,” she said.

And whether you are planting for a picture-perfect garden, backyard oasis or a patch of fruit and vegetables, the horticulturalist says you can’t go wrong with a healthy one.

“Much like us, if we’re healthy, if we’re getting good nutrition, we won’t show the results of sickness,” Stothart said.

“Your plants are going to be the same way.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson