There are many benefits to having a garden full of ladybugs.Considered a sign of good fortune in many cultures, ladybugs are sought after for their ability to control garden pests.Whether you are looking for a safe, organic method to protect your veggies or a bit of extra luck, with a few quick tips you will be on your way to attracting a backyard full of these little, spotted beauty.
Step 1: Plant plants that attract ladybugs.
You can lure ladybugs by attracting pests that they like to eat.If you are trying to get rid of garden pests, this might seem counterintuitive.A steady supply of food is necessary for a ladybug to stick around your garden.Consider growing cabbage, nasturtium, and radishes, all of which attract insects.If you want to protect plants, use these plants as decoys.
Step 2: Plants with fragrant flowers.
White and yellow flowers attract ladybugs.The zinnias have bright, yellow flower petals and are popular with the gandals.The cut flowers of both plants are excellent for indoor decoration.The shape and size of the flowers also matter.Flat, shallow flowers that are easy to land on and to eat from are preferred by the Ladybugs.They are great additions to your garden as they are also great food seasonings.
Step 3: Plants that ladybugs like to eat.
In addition to pests, ladybugs also feast on flowers.The pollen from plants such as yarrow and chives can be very delicious.ladybugs don't do visible damage to your flowers or plants because they eat flowers and not leaves.White, powdery mildew can sometimes form on the leaves of squash, cucumber, and zucchini plants and some species of ladybugs feast on it.Another bonus of eating ladybugs is that Mildew can harm plants.
Step 4: Do not use pesticides.
The food supply of the ladybug will be destroyed by insecticides.In a single week, ladybugs can eat up to 400 aphids.They need a lot of bugs to survive, so make sure to avoid sprays that will reduce their access to food.If you have to treat your plants for serious problems, use a natural method.There are certain plant soaps and oils that are safe to use.
Step 5: There are dishes of water in the garden.
The bugs need water to survive.If you want a steady supply of water in your garden, you can place shallow dishes of the water throughout the garden.To give the bugs a place to land, Line the bottom of the dishes with rocks.It's important to remember that stagnant water can become a breeding ground for mosquitos.If you empty and refill the dishes regularly, mosquitos will not lay their eggs.
Step 6: Plants will be sprayed with an artificial food solution.
You can encourage ladybugs to stay around by occasionally feeding them a homemade liquid food solution.They will supplement their diet with this.You can spread the solution around your garden by mixing equal amounts of water and brewer's yeast together with a little bit of honey.Put the solution in a spray bottle and apply it to your plants.It will not hurt the plants.
Step 7: To create ground cover, grow low, stocky plants.
There is a safe place for Ladybugs to hide.They might be looking to make them into a quick lunch.There are low stocky plants that will give the ladybugs a safe place to hide.You can cut and dry the herbs to make a seasoning while cooking.
Step 8: The ground should be covered with mulch or straw.
You can hide ladybugs by covering the ground in and around your garden with mulch or straw.There are plenty of nooks and crannies in the mulch or straw that can be used by ladybugs.The ground cover will help retain water.
Step 9: A home for ladybugs.
Ladybugs need a dry place to get out of the cold and lay their eggs.You can use a few common items to build your own ladybug shelter.The simplest way to build a ladybug home is to thread a piece of twine through a hollow tube, tying the string in a knot and hanging the tube on a fence.ladybugs can be welcomed into their new home with a couple of raisins inside.