Plant the herbs within or around your garden.
Hours and money spent caring for a garden are wiped away by unwanted pests, from mice to aphids. There are several pesticides and chemical repellents available to control these unwanted visitors, but some contain ingredients that harm the plants or pets. Herbal companion planting will safely and effectively repel insects, mice and moles from your garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Repel Ants
Plant catnip in your garden to repel ants, Japanese beetles and squash bugs. Use the fragrant herb, which belongs to the mint family, to protect your garden from stray cats, as well. Plant catnip around the garden's perimeter and the cats will be too interested in the intoxicating herb to bother your vegetables or flowers. Catnip will also attract bees to the garden, making it ideal for flowers that reproduce through pollination.
Repel Aphids
Cilantro, coriander and pennyroyal will all repel aphids from your garden. Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects that cause severe damage to plants in the form of wilting, yellowing and decreased growth rates. Plant cilantro near asparagus and spinach, but keep it away from fennel. Dry the seeds harvested for coriander to flavor your Asian or Latin American dishes. Avoid planting pennyroyal around cats, as it will prove toxic to the curious felines.
Repel Mice
Grow tansy in your garden to repel mice and several other insects, including aphids. Tansy was originally used for medicinal purposes in ancient Greece, although it is toxic in large doses. Harvest the tansy and use the dried leaves to repel mice in your home, as well.
Repel Moles
Plant gopher purge, or Euphorbia lathyrus, to repel moles and gophers from your garden. This herb secretes a milky white substance from its leaves and root system that causes skin irritation on contact. The herb requires replanting every two years and is effective for use both around the garden and inside the entrance of any gopher or mole burrows.
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