I Love Me Some Flowers! Nine Pest Control Flowers

Hello,                     From God's Little Acres... Urban Farming                      February 1, 2016

We got our first seeds planted. We are taking inventory to see what else why might need to order. We are really going to be taking advantage of the beauty and insecticide properties of flowers this year. Good bye white flies, hello petunias! 

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-borage.html Borage

Although it is an herb, borage can deter hornworms and  cabbage worms , and is believed to help almost any plant increase its resistance to disease and pests.

cabbage worms

 http://www.rxlist.com/borage/supplements.htm

Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums have large flower heads in white, yellow or pink, and they can be quite helpful with pests in the garden. Some varieties have been made into a tea for use as a pesticide to kill root nematodes and repel Japanese beetles.

Insecticidal uses[edit]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum

Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum [or Tanacetum] cinerariaefolium) is economically important as a natural source of insecticide. The flowers are pulverized, and the active components, called pyrethrins, which occur in the achenes, are extracted and sold in the form of an oleoresin. This is applied as a suspension in water or oil, or as a powder. Pyrethrins attack the nervous systems of all insects, and inhibit female mosquitoes from biting. In sublethal doses they have an insect repellent effect. They are harmful to fish, but are far less toxic to mammals and birds than many synthetic insecticides. They are not persistent, being biodegradable, and also decompose easily on exposure to light.Pyrethroids such as permethrin are synthetic insecticides based on natural pyrethrum.

Dahlias
Dahlias grow flowers with a variety of shapes and colors, making them a popular choice for flower gardeners. They’re said to also repel nematodes, making them both beautiful and useful in your vegetable garden.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/dahlias-herbs-58683.html

 Growing dahlias and herbs in the same area can significantly reduce or eliminate insect damage and keep unwanted small animals away as well.

Four O’Clocks

Four O’Clock flowers will attract and kill Japanese beetles, making them an excellent bait flower to place near your vegetable gardens. These flowers are also poisonous to pets and people too however, so take care to choose safe locations if you choose to plant these.

http://gardeningwithcharlie.com/grow-four-o-clocks.html

Lavender 
Lavender is an excellent general pest repellent flower to use in your garden. It repels both fleas and moths, and it can help protect other plants near it from whiteflies. *** Lavenders attack white flies, the white flies damage Lavender Plants****

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes. Lavender has been used for centuries to add a pleasantly sweet fragrance to homes and clothes drawers. Although people love the smell of lavender, mosquitoes, flies and other unwanted insects hate it.

Marigolds
The marigold is probably the most well known plant for repelling insects. French marigolds repel whiteflies and kill bad nematodes. Mexican marigolds are said to "bug" many destructive insects. Marigold flowers come in scented and unscented varieties, with the scented ones are best used for pest deterrents. And while this plant drives away many bad bugs, it also attracts spider mites and snails.   http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/06/02/effective-biological-pest-control/

Marigolds' greatest claim to pest control fame is their effect, documented in numerous studies, on nematodes, which are a kind of worm that in some cases is destructive to plants.

Like other members of the daisy family, marigolds also do their share in feeding nectar to beneficial insects, such as syrphid flies, who prey on aphids and other insects that attack garden plants. Members of the daisy family do not yield nearly as much nectar as flowers of the parsley family — dill, for instance — but daisy family flowers keep the nectar flowing longer.

Other beneficial effects of marigolds are less dramatic or useful. They have been shown to have some slight effect in repelling cabbage worms from cabbage and their kin. And some marigolds, especially a variety called Stinking Roger, repel flies, except that the flies are the kind that bother cows and other domestic animals, not plants.

Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums planted near tomatoes and cucumbers can fight off aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles. The flowers, especially the yellow blooming varieties, act as a trap for aphids.  http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/nasturtium-natural-antibiotic.html

Nasturtiums are good companion plants. They excrete a strong pungent essence into the air and soil, which has been found to deter aphids, white fly and root pests; and the essence secreted into the soil is also absorbed by other plants, helping them to resist attack by pests and disease. Plant nasturtiums between cabbages, broccoli, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, potatoes, and around fruit trees.

Aphid Spray: nasturtium leaves (infused in boiling water, cooled, strained, and with a little liquid soap added) are used as a spray for aphids on vegetables and other plants.

Petunias
Petunias can repel asparagus beetles, leafhoppers, aphids, tomato hornworms, and others.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/planting-petunias-as-a-companion-plant-in-your-garden#b

Petunias and Organic Pest Control

Petunias are ideal as companion plants because they are nature’s version of a pesticide. They repel a variety of pests including the asparagus beetle, leafhoppers and tomato worms. They are also effective against some types of aphids and Mexican bean beetles.

Some of the plants that thrive when you plant petunias as companions include brassicas, beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn and peppers. Roses also fare well when this natural insect deterrent is planted in proximity.

Protecting Your Vegetable Harvest

The brassica family includes broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts and cauliflower. When planting with broccoli or cabbage, petunias will increase the likelihood of you getting a good harvest because they trap cabbage worms. These “worms” are in fact a species of caterpillar that will eat through an entire crop if left unchecked so the best, organic method for you to control these pests is to plant petunias in your cabbage beds.

Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and tobacco are part of the same family and are susceptible to the same type of pests such as aphids, hornworms, cabbage loopers, Japanese beetles and weevils. Planting petunias or geraniums among your crops will either distract or repel these pests from your harvest plants.

Protecting Grape Vines

Grape vines attract a large variety of pests from aphids, mites and moths, to nematodes. Certain nematode species attack grape vine roots, which lead to stunted growth because the nutrient and water absorption cycle is affected. Companion planting around grape vines of petunias will protect your grapes from most of these pests and guarantee better vigor and health for your plants. 

Companion planting is the best way for you to control pests in your garden naturally and cleanly. Commercially available pesticides contain chemicals that cannot be considered beneficial to your health.

Sunflowers
Sunflowers might be the largest flower you have in your garden, and what a better beacon to say "come on over" to beneficial pollinators. I've heard that they can draw aphids away from other plants.

http://farmersalmanac.com/home-garden/2012/06/11/sunflowers-to-the-rescue/

The sunflower is one of many plants that are now known to aid in “phytoremediation,” a process that employs various types of plants to remove, transfer, stabilize, and/or destroy contaminants in the our soil, water and air. Compared to other cleanup methods, such as soil excavation or pumping polluted groundwater, phytoremediation has become a clean, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to reclaim and reuse land that has been tainted by poisonous chemicals and heavy metals.