Most gardeners must want to know how they can attract ladybugs so that they can benefit from the useful garden chores that these bugs perform. Read to know more.
Ladybugs all dressed in red Strolling through the flowerbed. If I were tiny just like you I'd creep among the flowers too! ~ Maria Fleming
Ladybugs are indeed the prettiest little bugs that we see. While most may want to attract them into their garden simply to make it look a little prettier, these little bugs can prove to be quite useful to the garden they call home.
They eat up tiny insects and keep the garden clean and healthy. If you too want to benefit from these tiny little bugs, just follow the simple instructions given ahead. You'll have your own little ladybug garden ready soon!
Plant the Right Plants
The first step that you can undertake to coax ladybugs into your garden is have a garden that houses those plants that they are more prone to infesting. Ladybugs are generally attracted to plants which have goblet or umbrella shaped flowers.
Hence having plants like tulips, lilies etc. are great to attract them. Apart from those, fresh looking plants like dill, dandelions, cilantro, calendula, etc. are also great attractions for ladybugs.
Some other plants, known to attract these pretty bugs are marigold, chives, wild mustard, clover, fennel, etc. So plant these, and take the additional steps given here, to have ample of red bugs in your garden.
Leave the Aphids Alone
One of the main reasons you want ladybugs in the garden is to get rid of aphids and other insects, invading your garden. You might want to cut the other remedies you use to keep the aphids, mealybugs, mites, whiteflies and other insects away.
When you see larvae that look like they could belong to aphids, just leave them alone. Resist the temptation to bring out the exterminator and take them out. Aphids are one of the things that ladybugs absolutely love to eat. So the more aphids you leave within your garden, the more chances you have of ladybugs entering your garden.
Provide Sustenance
One of the sure shot ways to attract a bug, or a human being is to provide the right kind of food that he or she likes. Amazingly, it is the same with these pretty bugs. Just keep some delicious foods that they like in your garden and see them swarming into it, to satiate their hunger.
You can mix 4 portions of sugar with 1 portion of water, put this solution in a spray bottle and spray your plants with it. Another thing you can do is plant alfalfa or goldenrods in your garden. Ladybirds love to feast on these plants. So while they enjoy the food, you can enjoy their presence.
Keep the Garden Wet
Ladybugs thrive in wet areas. They absolutely love moisture. They're hungry little bugs who eat and drink voraciously and are drawn to moist areas that provide them with these conditions. So, to attract them, you need to keep your garden and all the plants in it suitably hydrated all the time.
You can keep a shallow dish of water in the middle of your garden. This will make the spotted bugs seeking water come into your garden. Once they're there, you can follow any of the steps to ensure their stay.
If even after all these, you are not successful in attracting ladybugs into your garden, you have one last choice. Call your local nursery and see if they have a stock. Buy some of them and keep them in your garden. They'll certainly attract their friends and family into your garden! Good luck!