Many gardeners are discovering that by using companion planting they can discourage garden pests with the additional benefit of not harming helpful insects such as bees and ladybugs. Through their odours or root secretions some herbs and flowers are able to deter pests naturally as well as improving growth and flavour.
Companion Planting
Many herbs and flowers are natural insect repellents that can keep your garden pest free and eliminate or reduce the need for potentially harmful pesticides.
Companion planting is the ultimate way to bring the balance of nature into your garden. When choosing what to grow in your garden, just do your best to match the suitable herb with the suitable plant when planting and the results will follow.
Companion Plants That Grow Well Together
BASIL: Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavour and to repel flies and mosquitoes. Do not plant near rue.
BEE BALM (Oswego): Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavour.
BORAGE: Companion plant for tomatoes, squash and strawberries. Deters tomato worms.
CARAWAY: Good for loosening compacted soil
CATNIP: Deters flea beetles.
CAMOMILE: Improves the flavour of cabbages and onions.
CHERVIL: Companion to radishes for improved growth and flavour.
CHIVES: Improves growth and flavour of carrots.
DILL: Improves growth and health of cabbage. Do not plant near carrots.
FENNEL: Most plants dislike it. Plant by itself.
FLAX: Plant with carrots, and potatoes.
GARLIC: Plant near roses to repel aphids.
HORSERADISH: Plant in the potato patch to keep away potato bugs.
HYSSOP: Companion plant to cabbage and grapes, deters cabbage moths. Do not plant near radishes.
MARIGOLDS (Calendula): The workhorse of pest deterrents. Keeps the soil free of nematodes; discourages many insects. Plant freely throughout the garden.
MARJORAM: Improves the flavour of all vegetables.
MINT: Deters white cabbage moths and improves the health of cabbage and tomatoes.
NASTURTIUMS: Plant with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. Deters aphids and pests of the curcurbit family.
PARSLEY: Plant with tomatoes and asparagus.
PEPPERMINT: Repels white cabbage moths.
PETUNIAS: They repel the asparagus beetle, tomato worm and general garden pests. Also, a good companion to tomatoes, but plant everywhere.
PURSLANE: This edible weed makes good ground cover in the corn.
ROSEMARY: Companion plant to cabbage, beans, carrots and sage. Deters cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.
RUE: Deters Japanese beetles in roses and raspberries.
SAGE: Companion plant with rosemary, cabbage and carrots to deter cabbage moths, beetles, carrot flies. Do not plant near cucumbers.
SOUTHERNWOOD: Plant with cabbage, and here and there in the garden.
SUMMER SAVORY: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavour. Discourages cabbage moths.
TANSY: Plant with fruit trees, roses and raspberries. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants.
TARRAGON: Plant throughout the garden as not many pests like this one.
THYME: Deters cabbage worms.
WORMWOOD: Keeps animals out of the garden when planted as a border.
If you need some help in determining the right plants for your garden, or assistance in maintaining your gardens just contact the team at Perth Landscaping and Gardening for a free quote.
September is the beginning of spring here in Perth and the perfect time to get ready for the warmer days ahead. It’s a great time to plant pretty much anything and undertake an outdoor spring clean. There’s lots to do in the garden but don’t get overwhelmed; just aim to do a little each week and you’ll have it under control in no time. Or Get in touch with our team of experts to take the burden away from you.
Must-Do Spring Garden Maintenance Tasks
Spring in Perth means it’s time to prepare your garden for growth and get it in the best shape possible to beat the heat.
Here are some of our top tips for the garden maintenance tasks you should be tackling this month:
Turn on and check your reticulation system: reticulation can be switched on again from the 1st of September so make sure to either book in a reticulation repair and service or check it yourself to make sure the watering days are set correctly, it is still giving proper coverage and the right amount of water to your garden and lawn areas.
Fertilise! Now is the time to give your gardens and lawns a fertiliser boost to help with growth. Add soil improvers to garden beds, lightly fertilise lawns, apply Blood n Bone to citrus, fruit trees and roses, and top dress the lawn.
Prune your citrus trees. If they have finished fruiting, it’s time to give them a prune to cut back anything dead, diseased or unwanted before bud break. Read our guide on pruning fruit trees if you need some tips.
Planting time! Warm season veggies, citrus trees and loads of other shrubs, flowers and plants can be added to your garden this month. Check with your local nursery to select the right plants for your local area.
5. Back to normalmaintenance. Tasks like regular hedging and more frequent mowing can begin again now that growth will begin to increase.
6. Spring Prune. Winter flowering plants, natives and hedges can be pruned back now to ensure healthy new foliage and promote growth. Ornamental grasses can also be pruned back if they are starting to look a bit dry and old.
Extra tips for Gardening in September
Fertilise strawberries to encourage a bumper crop
Get weeds under control
Apply a slow-release lawn food to all grassed areas
Use a metal rake to remove any build-up of thatch or a low mow. Then water well to assist recovery!
If looking a bit sparse – reseed or returf bare areas of the lawn
Increase watering of potted plants as the weather warms up
Apply a slow-release fertiliser to all potted plants
Fertilise all plants and lawns as growth resumes
Prune hibiscus and also prune plants that flowered in winter and early spring
Plant herbs such as parsley, mint, coriander, and oregano
Renew mulch on garden beds – cover the soil with compost and then cover with a layer of mulch
Divide and repot cymbidium orchids after flowering
Watch for pests on new growth such as aphids and snails. Aphids can be squashed or treated.
Snails and slugs can be trapped or deterred
Repot potted plants that are root bound
Divide herbaceous clumping plants as new growth resumes
Dead head spring annuals and bulbs
Complete an Outdoor Spring Clean
September is also a great time to spring clean your backyard ready to spend more time outside having fun, relaxing and entertaining in the warmer weather. Check all your outdoor furniture and equipment (including cubby houses, trampolines, swing sets). Clean and repaint or re-oil outdoor furniture as required. Check and tighten nuts and bolts. Sweep or water-blast paved areas to remove mould or moss build-up as well as accumulated leaves and dirt. Clean the BBQ and replenish the gas bottles so you’re all set to enjoy the warmer weather that September brings.
If you need help with your yard this September just contact our team to find out how we can help your garden get the best start to Spring and beyond – garden maintenance is what we do!
September is a busy month in the garden. Time to plant glorious summer salad ingredients and fruits as well as lovely herbs to flavour dishes and add another dimension to summer drinks. See our list of what to plant this month below,
Spring is an important time for your lawn. It’s preparing to move into its growing phase and the harsh conditions of summer so it’s the time to give it a boost and a helping hand.
Now you shouldn’t wait for a date on the calendar; as a general rule, when the nights get warmer and the days begin that bit earlier then it’s spring time for your lawn and you need to be ready.
Gardening ensures our children have a lovely environment to play in, we have a relaxing place to entertain friends and family, and/or a supply of home-grown fruits, herbs and vegetables.
But did you know that regular participation in gardening offers some amazing health benefits too?!
Gardening health benefits
Self-esteem and Stress Relief
After completing a stressful task, a Dutch study asked half of their participants to garden for 30mins and the other half to read indoors. The gardening group reported better moods and displayed measurable lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone and it has the power to impact on more than just mood. Chronically high levels of cortisol have been linked to a range of issues including memory and learning difficulties, heart disease, lower immune function and obesity.
Hand Strength and Dexterity
Gardening helps to keep hand muscles agile without the need for specialist exercises. Related research has been the inspiration for rehabilitation programmes for stroke patients involving gardening as an effective way of rebuilding both agility and strength.
But take it easy – gardening can also be a starting point for repetitive stress injuries, carpal tunnel and tendonitis – remember to do a few simple warm-ups, alternate the use of your right and left hands (to avoid strain and for balance), change tasks frequently before strain occurs and position your body so that you are comfortable.
Immunity Regulation
This one is a great one! Not only are you absorbing Vitamin D to help you fight colds and flus, but the dirt under your fingernails is helping your immune system too. The friendly soil bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae and common in garden soil is absorbed by ingestion on vegetables or inhalation. It’s been found to ease symptoms of allergies, asthma, psoriasis which can all stem from a compromised immune system. This friendly bacteria has also been shown to alleviate depression so getting your hands dirty is good for your physical and mental health.
Stroke Risk Reduction and Heart Health
Gardening is a way to achieve your target 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise each week. A large Stockholm study found that regular gardening reduces stroke and heart attack risk by up to 30% for those over 60. Make sure to expose your limbs (without sunscreen) for just 10 minutes during midday gardening: this will give you enough vitamin D to reduce risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, and various cancers. Try for 30 minutes of gardening a day: if your schedule won’t let you fit in half an hour at a stretch, try a quick 15 minutes in the morning, and another 15 later. Too much sitting is dangerous for your health, so break it up as much as you can with little spurts of activity like gardening.
Mental Health and Depression
The growing field of ‘horticultural therapy’ is giving proven results for patients with depression and other mental illnesses. The benefits appear to be based on a combination of physical activity, awareness of natural surroundings, cognitive stimulation and the satisfaction of the work. To build the therapeutic properties of your own garden, aim for a combination of food-producing, scented, and flowering plants to nourish all the senses. Add a comfortable seat so you can continue to bask in the garden while you take breaks and relax. Letting your body get a little hot and sweaty might also have hidden benefits: as devotees of hot baths and saunas can attest, elevated body temperatures are also correlated with increased feelings of well-being. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and know your limits.
Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Risk
A long-term study followed nearly 3000 older adults for 16 years, tracking the incidence of all kinds of dementia and assessing a variety of lifestyle factors. Researchers found daily gardening to represent the single biggest risk reduction for dementia, reducing incidence by 36%. Another study estimated the risk reduction at 47%. Alzheimer’s is a mysterious disease and the factors influencing its progression and incidence remain largely misunderstood but gardening involves so many of our critical functions, including strength, endurance, dexterity, learning, problem-solving, and sensory awareness, so its benefits are likely to span a wide range of issues.
So for a boost to your mental and physical health, get out into the garden and get your hands dirty. Your body, mind and plants will thank you for it.
If your garden requires a bit more attention than you can handle on your own just contact Perth Landscaping and Gardening, we’re happy to help.
