Creating a biodiverse garden: attracting beneficial insects, pollinators and natural pest controllers

A lot of effort goes into having a blooming and productive garden. With some smart plant choices, you can keep your garden growing and attracting the right kind of insects for years to come.

Although they may seem tiny, insects form the backbone of our ecosystems. Not only do they provide food for birds, hedgehogs and other animals, they are also vital in pollinating and play a major role in pest control. A garden full of insects and wildlife will have a reduction in soil-borne diseases, fewer problem pests, and boost flower and crop yields.

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There are four key types of invertebrates that live on or around your plants, some hinderers, some helpers and some a bit of both:

• Detritivores - including springtails, woodlice and beetles. These will feed on decomposing organic matter, and some even feed on fungal and algal growths. They play a massive role in recycling dead material in the garden and keeping the soil nutrient-rich.
• Omnivores - such as harvestmen and earwigs. They will eat both plants and animals, making them adaptable if one food source becomes limited.
• Herbivores - common ones include caterpillars, some beetles, thrips and aphids. They eat living plants and are often considered pests, causing damage as they go.
• Predators - certain beetles, ladybirds, spiders, true bugs and wasps. These eat other animals and help keep herbivores in check and maintain a healthy ecosystem.

With pollinator populations dropping - about a 60% decline of flying insects in the last 20 years - it’s becoming ever more important to consider our little critters. About a third of our food crops are pollinated by insects, and 87% of all plants are pollinated by insects and wildlife. Whether you have decorative flowers or produce plants, there are mini garden helpers for us all. They just need a helping hand getting settled in.

Pollinators love flowering plants, and it's estimated that gardens cover up to a quarter of surface land in our cities and towns. If you’re looking for some easy to grow flowering plants that take no longer than 15 minutes of care a year, check out this RSPB article.

It’s not just pollinators that should be considered. Some insects also live on and in the plants themselves.

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Here are a few common helpers to encourage into our gardens:

• Hoverflies – adults feed on nectar and help pollinate flowers, larvae feed on aphids and are great pest controllers. Plants for them: yarrow, alyssum, dill, cosmos, mallow, poached egg plant, lemon balm, potentilla, marigold.
• Ladybirds – feeding on aphids and red spider mites, another great pest controller. Plants for them: yarrow, carpet bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), alyssum, penstemon, fennel, cinquefoil and tansy.
• Butterflies and moths – they are pollinators and provide food for insectivorous animals like bats, hedgehogs and birds. Plants for butterflies: buddleia, marjoram, lavender, perennial wallflower. Plants for moths: jasmine, evening primrose, honeysuckle, sweet rocket and night-scented stock.
• Lacewings – They eat aphids and insect eggs. Plants for them: yarrow, dill, angelica, coriander, cosmos, fennel and dandelion
• Solitary bees – Plants for them:  lavender, fuchsia, heather, viburnum, marjoram, cat mint.
• Ground beetle – They eat slugs and snails. While certain plants won’t attract them, shady areas like log and leaf piles will bring them in.

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Too much of any one of these invertebrate types can be a bad thing but they all support the ecosystem and help maintain an equilibrium. We’ve put together a few tips to do in your garden to encourage your critters to stay:

• Local or exotic - while having mostly British native or near native plants is best, planting a few exotic species, especially evergreens, supports invertebrates year-round more than British native plants can. During the winter, these plants can offer a lifeline.
• Consider cover – let your plants grow out in places to create a densely packed environment appealing to some insects. This encourages more bugs in your garden and a safer habitat for them to thrive in. Leave some areas sparser for spiders and ground-nesting bees.
• Choose a priority ahead of time – planting more exotic flowers will result in less eaten plants by herbivores but less support for insects that live on the ground or in plants. However, they are great for pollinators, extending the flowering season.
• Diversity - having a diverse range of plants will encourage greater biodiversity, keeping pests in check and avoiding disease.
• Skip the sweep and prune – detritivores love dead leaves. Avoid sweeping them up entirely and instead sprinkle them on flower beds to create nutrient-rich mulch.  Leave as much of the woody stems of perennials as possible for bees and other insects to hollow them out as winter hideouts or to lay eggs.

Some insects prefer certain plants more than others, if you're looking to attract a certain one, check out Flowers to attract beneficial insects.

While bugs play a big role in your garden, nothing can grow without a good water supply. As we’re seeing year on year, water is becoming a commodity through the summer months. If you’re worried about hosepipe bans or managing your water bills, our full range of water butts is a great place to start.

Skip the pesticides and make small changes to your garden so it becomes a haven for more than just your family. Generally speaking, the more variety of plants within a garden, the better the biodiversity and the healthier your space will be. With a mix of flowing plants, herbs and produce, bushes and trees both native and non-native will keep your garden nourished and thriving for years to come with minimal care required.