Pest Repellent Plants: Combos to Protect Your Garden Naturally

For a thriving garden it’s important to creating a balanced ecosystem where plants support each other to flourish. One of the most effective ways to protect your garden without harsh chemicals is through companion planting with pest-repelling flowers and herbs.

By strategically planting certain flowers and herbs alongside your vegetables, you can naturally deter pests, attract beneficial insects, and enjoy a healthier, more productive garden that requires less time from you. Here’s a helpful guide to common garden pests and the plants that help keep them away.

Pest-Repelling Plant Combos 

Discover which plants can help defend your vegetables from garden pests.

Tip: For natural pest control, plant marigolds along the edges of raised beds and nasturtiums as ground cover. These colorful, easy-to-grow flowers attract pests away from main crops, often called trap crops, while enhancing the beauty of your garden.

How Companion Plants Repel Pests

Wondering how these companion plants work their magic? Here are some natural ways that help keep pests away from your favorite plants:

Masking Scent

Strongly scented herbs like basil, sage, and chives confuse pests by masking the smell of their preferred crops. For example, planting chives near carrots helps hide the carrots' scent from carrot flies.

Attracting Beneficial Insects

Flowers like marigolds, alyssum, and cosmos attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. These predatory insects feast on aphids, caterpillars, and other garden pests.

Trap Cropping

Some plants act as "trap crops," luring pests away from valuable vegetables. Nasturtiums are a perfect example—they attract aphids and squash bugs, keeping these pests away from cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes.

Pest Toxicity

Certain plants release chemicals that are toxic or unappealing to pests. Marigolds, for instance, produce a substance in their roots that repels nematodes, which are microscopic worms that damage plant roots.

Top Flowers & Herbs for Pest Control in the Garden

1. Marigold

• Protects: Tomatoes, peppers, beans
• Repels: Aphids, nematodes, whiteflies
• Planting Tip: Sow marigolds as a border around vegetable beds to create a natural pest barrier.

2. Nasturtium

• Protects: Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes
• Repels: Aphids, squash bugs, cucumber beetles
• Planting Tip: Allow nasturtiums to sprawl or hang over garden edges as living ground cover.

3. Chives

• Protects: Carrots, lettuce, strawberries
• Repels: Aphids, carrot flies, slugs
• Planting Tip: Grow chives near carrots and roses to deter aphids and carrot flies.

4. Basil 

• Protects: Tomatoes, peppers
• Repels: Mosquitoes, tomato hornworms
• Planting Tip: Plant basil alongside tomatoes to improve growth and repel hornworms.

5. Lavender

• Protects: General garden areas
• Repels: Mosquitoes, moths
• Planting Tip: Use lavender around patios or seating areas to reduce mosquito activity.

Did you know? Interplanting refers to the practice of planting different crops close together to maximize space, important for raised bed and container gardens.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Interplanting

Interplanting involves growing different plants together in the same space to enhance growth, deter pests, and improve overall garden health. When you’re growing to feed your family, combining interplanting and companion planting will save time and effort while maximizing your food harvest. Here’s how to implement it successfully:

Step 1: Plan Plant Pairings

Use the pest-repelling chart above to match flowers and herbs with compatible vegetables. For instance:

• Tomatoes: Plant with marigolds and basil.
• Cabbage and Kale: Interplant with dill and thyme.
• Squash and Cucumbers: Pair with nasturtiums.

Tip: Avoid planting crops and flowers that inhibit each other’s growth. For example, keep sage away from cucumbers and fennel away from beans.

Step 2: Use the 3-Layer Planting Method

1. Tall Crops (Trellised or Staked Plants): Tomatoes, pole beans, and sunflowers.
2. Mid-Level Crops (Bushy or Compact Plants): Peppers, basil, marigolds.
3. Ground Cover Plants (Low-Growing or Sprawling): Nasturtiums, alyssum, and chives.

Example Layout:

• Center: Tomato plants (staked)
• Surrounding: Basil and marigolds at mid-level
• Outer Edge: Nasturtiums spilling over the sides

Step 3: Follow Spacing Guidelines

Even in interplanted gardens, plants need enough room to grow and access sunlight. Follow these general guidelines:

• Tall Crops: Space tomatoes 18-24 inches apart.
• Herbs (i.e., basil & chives): 6-12 inches apart.
• Sprawling Flowers (i.e., nasturtiums): 12-18 inches apart.

Step 4: Alternate Rows or Patches

For raised beds, alternate rows of vegetables with pest-repelling flowers and herbs. For example:

Row 1: Tomatoes - Marigolds - Basil 

Row 2: Lettuce - Chives - Nasturtiums 

Row 3: Carrots - Dill - Marigolds 

This pattern provides even pest protection while maximizing space.

Step 5: Maintain & Monitor

• Weed Regularly: Competing weeds reduce the effectiveness of companion plants.
• Water Consistently: Different plants have different water needs, so group plants with similar requirements.
• Observe Pest Activity: Track which combinations work best for your garden’s unique environment.

More Tips for Interplanting Success

• Start Small: If you're new to interplanting, begin with one raised bed and track the results.
• Prioritize Pollinator Plants: Flowers like cosmos, zinnias, and alyssum attract pollinators that boost yields for fruiting vegetables.
• Attract Beneficial Insects: Incorporate companion flowers that support predatory insects, like ladybugs and lacewings, to help control pest populations.
• Rotate Flowers Each Year: Just like crops, flowers can deplete soil nutrients, so rotate plant locations annually.

Incorporate pest-repelling flowers and use interplanting techniques to create a resilient, productive garden that thrives naturally. Plus, you'll enjoy colorful blooms, buzzing pollinators, and fewer pest problems—all without synthetic pesticides.

Tips for Successful Pest-Repelling Companion Planting

1. Rotate Crops Annually: Pests can overwinter in soil and return the next season. Rotating crop families and companion flowers each year helps break pest cycles.
2. Use Flowers in Borders: Plant pest-repelling flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums along garden bed edges to create a protective barrier.
3. Mix Scented Herbs Throughout the Garden: Herbs like basil, rosemary, and chives can confuse pests by masking the scent of host plants.
4. Choose Non-GMO, High-Quality Seeds: Healthy, vigorous plants are better equipped to withstand pest pressures naturally.

Companion planting with pest-repelling flowers and herbs is a simple, sustainable way to protect your garden while letting you enjoy all the color and fragrance in your growing space. With the right flower and herb combinations, you’ll enjoy healthier plants, fewer pests, and spend more time enjoying your healthy garden season after season.

Incorporate interplanting to maximize your garden space.