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Tips to Attract Good Bugs to Your Yard

A great garden and well-landscaped yard can increase your home’s value and will guarantee that you enjoy your outdoor space to its fullest. If you have decided to make the most of your yard this season, ensure that it keeps thriving by attracting good bugs to your yard. 

What Kinds of Bugs are “Good” Bugs?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, in the average backyard, only about 10% of the thousands of bugs that live there are actually destructive. Most are beneficial or simply harmless. Good bugs for your garden include three types of bugs: pollinators, which pollinate your garden’s flowers, predators which eat insects that are pests and parasites, which lay their eggs on bad bug’s eggs so that their larva can eat the eggs once hatched.

Tips to Attract Good Bugs
A diverse array of plants and florals will ensure that your garden area is considered prime real estate for good bugs. Different nectars and pollen will attract a larger variety of beneficial bugs.

  • Early blooming plants will help draw out the good bugs in the early spring. 
  • In the later and warmer months, bees, butterflies and other good bugs will be attracted to plants with blossom compounds, such as mint and lavender. 
  • Native plants will ensure that native pollinators will be especially attracted to your yard.
  • Add a water source, like a bee bath or a pond. Beneficial bugs like bees and dragonflies alike need water. 
    • Bees use water to dilute honey, keep cool and for creating royal jelly to feed larvae. 
    • Dragonfly females lay eggs on water surfaces and will even place their eggs into aquatic plants at times. 

What to Avoid to Ensure Good Bugs Live in Your Yard
It might be tempting to use chemical pesticides to rid your yard of pesky pests, but remember that these will likely kill pesky bugs and beneficial bugs alike. Even some substances labeled natural can still kill many good bugs in your yard and gardens. Remember also that non-native plants do a poorer job of attracting beneficial bugs. While you can have non-native plants in your yard, you should prioritize planting natives to ensure the best chance of attracting good bugs. Native plants also offer the advantage of being easier to care for in your normal climate, saving you time and money tending to their needs.

If you want your yard to remain an enticing home for pollinators and other beneficial bugs, a little planning can go a long way. Creating an outdoor oasis for yourself and your good bug friends just requires the right foliage.