How to deter plant pests: Gardener's 'first line of defence' against plant pests will also make your vegie patch prettier

Now we’re well into spring, Aussie gardeners are hard at work getting stuck into sowing seeds and planting seedlings.

But an ever-present concern is the potential for bugs and other pests to destroy our hard work.

There are plenty of things you can do to deter these critters from nibbling away your produce, including what one gardener calls her “first line of defence”.

Watch the video above.

Marigolds are planted in the middle of a veggie patch to deter pests. (TikTok/@lagailsorganicgardening)

The tip comes from the TikTok account of a community garden in the US where they are currently planting veggies for the autumn season.

But the gardener’s tip is a brilliant one for spring because the plant she’s using is one you can sow now in spring or buy seedlings of.

It’s not just the idea of using a plant as a pest deterrent that is brilliant, it’s the way she’s planting them in her raised garden bed.

“We’re planting marigolds. Marigolds are my first line of defence for bugs in the garden, they don’t like the smell of marigold – French marigold. So I’m putting them in the ground first, getting rid of bugs organically then I’m going to come back and plant my carrots and summer squash,” she said.

READ MORE: Gardener reveals the best time to plant lemon trees

READ MORE: What flower seeds to sow in spring

READ MORE: Should you buy an iPhone 17? Everything you need to know

Orange flowers, French marigolds blooming in the garden, in soft blurred style, on other blossom blur background. Marigolds aren’t just a pretty flower, they work hard in the garden. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The marigolds were planted right down the middle of the garden bed so that both sides of the veggie patch are protected.

Marigolds are probably the most well known and popular companion and pest deterrent plant. They are loved for their ability to prevent bad bugs while attracting beneficial insects.

They work both in the soil and above by repelling root-knot nematodes from damaging plant root.

Mosquito deterrent plant, flower

Six mosquito deterrent plants to add to your garden

While the scent of their foliage deters mosquitoes and squash bugs, they also act as what’s known as a trap crop by luring bugs like aphids away from your plants. This means the aphids attack the marigolds instead of your veggies or cut flowers.

And of course they look pretty, like little bursts of a sunset in between leafy growth.

Another good option for a trap crop if you want to mix things up or aren’t a fan of marigolds is nasturtiums.

Aphids prefer nasturtiums to other plants so they’ll head to them first. They also tend to attract cabbage white butterflies, which lay eggs that turn into caterpillars that voraciously eat your leaves and flowers.

Like marigolds nasturtiums not only attract the bad insects, they also attract beneficial ones needed for pollination so that is hugely important too.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Bright orange and yellow nasturtiums growing alongside leafy greens in a wooden raised garden bed. Nasturtiums are also edible. (Getty)

And they’re great to plant alongside tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and many others as they are known to boost flavour and growth. They’ll also cover the soil to keep it cool in the hot sun of summer.

Nasturtium seeds can be sown now, along with your summer vegies, or you can plant seedlings from the garden centre.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.