It’s all too easy to reach for the bottle of chemicals at the first sign of pests or disease but Mother Nature has long provided successful remedies for many of today’s pests. So why not grow some of these and give them a go?

Garlic

One of the oldest herbs, it repels aphids and cabbage butterflies with the bonus of fresh cloves. Extracts are made into a spray.

Lavender

Grown as a border plant for repelling insects and dried bunches in drawers will protect clothes from moths. Bonus is it’s an attractive flowering shrub.

Marigolds

Easy grown as an ornamental annual. The roots deter nematodes, tomato worms and many garden pests. They brighten up the veggie patch and attract bees to pollinate tomato and zuchinni plants.

Rosmary

With strong fragrant leaves it grows in all but the wettest situations. It deters cabbage moths, bean beetles and carrot flies (greenhouse white flies).

Lemon Balm

Citrus perfumed member of the mint family deters flies and cabbage moths.