Articles
Symbiotic Pest Management
As the days grow longer and the warmth settles in, it’s not only our gardens that come to life. With rising temperatures comes an influx of hungry little visitors, eager to make a meal of our hard-earned vegetables and blooms. But before reaching for any harsh solutions, let’s consider a different approach: natural pest management. In fact, learning to live in symbiosis with these tiny creatures can actually strengthen our gardens and support the ecosystem.
“If something is not eating your plants, then your garden is not part of the ecosystem.”
I am unsure of where this quote originated, but finding this image on Pinterest years ago gave me pause, and I have been quoting it ever since.
It’s a reminder that, in a way, every bite, every bug, and every chewed leaf is proof that our gardens are part of a living web. In the face of nibbling insects, it's tempting to reach for quick fixes, but what if, instead, we leaned into nature’s rhythms? Working with the ecosystem, rather than against it, invites us to adopt methods that encourage balance without disrupting the life our gardens host.
The ideal garden for many folk is one filled with pest-resistant plants—often varieties brought in from other regions that local insects don’t recognise as tasty morsels. These plants offer convenience but come at a cost, as they do little to support native insect populations and, in turn, our ecosystems.
Now, with the alarming decline in insect numbers (Seasonally apt case-in-point: where's the droves of colourful Christmas beetle these days?) and a growing awareness of biodiversity loss, a fresh perspective is taking root.
• Many gardeners are choosing to make their spaces wildlife-friendly, prioritising native plants that provide food and habitat for local wildlife, birds, and pollinators. This shift isn’t just about managing pests naturally; it’s about creating an interconnected ecosystem, where native plants and animals thrive together.
By including native plants in your garden, you’re not only supporting a diversity of beneficial insects but also encouraging a garden that’s healthier, more resilient, and truly in harmony with nature.
• Natural pest control begins by calling on nature’s own gardeners—the beneficial insects. Ladybugs, lacewings, and hoverflies are just a few examples of garden allies that naturally keep pest populations in check by preying on aphids, mites, and other nuisances. By planting flowers like yarrow, dill, and fennel, we create habitats for these beneficial bugs, inviting them to stay and lend a helping hand.
You can also order helpful bugs over the internet, they will be shipped to you, you release them in your garden where you've identified perhaps an imbalance in a more destructive critter, and the predatory bugs will help to bring the population down to more manageable levels, protecting those plants they're after.
Try https://bugsforbugs.com.au/, who have entymologists on staff to answer any questions.
There are plenty of ways to draw in beneficial insects that outcompete harmful ones. You might try installing an insect hotel for solitary bees or leaving small, undisturbed patches of soil for ground beetles. A biodiverse garden isn’t just good for pest control; it also supports pollination and soil health.
• Companion planting is another tried-and-true approach to peaceful pest control. Certain plants have natural properties that repel specific pests: for instance, marigolds release a scent that deters nematodes and aphids, while basil can help keep flies and mosquitoes at bay. Pairing plants thoughtfully not only reduces pest damage but can also enhance flavour, growth, and yield.
• For soil health and pest prevention, mulching and crop rotation are invaluable. A layer of organic mulch keeps the soil moist, cool, and enriched, reducing stress on your plants, which can make them less attractive to pests. Deep watering at the base of plants ensures hydration without attracting moisture-loving insects to the leaves. Mulch also helps in deterring pests like cutworms by creating a physical barrier around plant stems, making it harder for cutworms to reach young plants. Organic mulch also supports beneficial insects and ground-dwelling predators like beetles, which naturally help control cutworm populations. Additionally, mulch keeps soil moist and cool, creating an environment that’s less attractive to cutworms, which prefer bare, exposed soil.
• Crop rotation—a centuries-old practice—breaks pest and disease cycles by changing what’s planted in a given area each season. This simple switch can save plants from specific pests that tend to linger in the soil and targets particular crops year after year. A bonus to crop rotations is ensuring the crops you plant that each prefer specific nutrients, don't deplete their supply of those favourites and offer a poorly crop in subsequent years plantings.
Sometimes, all it takes is some observation. Watching your garden closely lets you spot small imbalances before they become large-scale problems. A quick spray of water can dislodge aphids; hand-picking caterpillars in the early morning is surprisingly effective. And for persistent issues, homemade solutions like neem oil or soap sprays can provide gentle, non-toxic alternatives to synthetic pesticides, working with nature instead of disrupting it.
By adopting these natural methods, we’re creating more than a garden—we’re fostering a diverse ecosystem that benefits plants, soil, insects, and humans alike. Rather than waging war against pests, we’re supporting a self-sustaining, harmonious environment. Our gardens become a place where life thrives in balance, where every leaf, whether pristine or perfectly imperfect, tells a story of resilience, interconnectedness, and shared existence.
This summer, let’s work with nature instead of against it. A garden that’s home to both plants and insects is a healthy, balanced one. By focusing on natural pest management, you’re cultivating more than just a beautiful garden—you’re nurturing a living, breathing ecosystem.
Eden Seeds creates several beneficial insect seed mixes, to help you get started in your pollinator friendly garden journey.
Find our Beneficial Insect / Bee Flower Mix here
