How to Attract Ladybugs to your Garden

Growing a garden is like raising a child: you want to do everything you can to ensure its success. One of those things? Attract ladybugs to your garden. Ladybugs are immensely beneficial plant helpers — especially for organic gardens.

Ladybugs are nature’s pest repellents. Whereas all-natural or chemical-based pest repellents get rid of all beneficial insects (like ladybugs, earthworms, soldier beetles, and more), ladybugs encourage other beneficial insects while discouraging garden pests.

Aphids, mealybugs, leafhoppers, scales, and mites all are prey of the ladybug. One ladybug eats up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime! The more ladybugs are around your vegetable garden, the more likely your plant is to be in better help.

When you’re growing in a container garden kit, it can be really tricky to attract ladybugs to your plant.

Here are ways to attract ladybugs to help your garden out.

Plant a Desirable Companion Plant

Companion planting is when you grow plants that work together in the garden to provide better results. If you choose the right companion plant, you can aid your main plant’s growth while simultaneously attracting ladybugs to your garden.

Plants that Attract Ladybugs:

Marigolds, fennel, dill, garlic, chives, and calendula all make excellent ladybug attractants. Here are a few vegetables you can grow with each of these easy to grow companion plants.

Companion Plant that Attracts Ladybugs	Vegetable Plants to Grow With
Marigold	Tomato, cucumber, lettuce, squash, eggplant
Garlic	Beets, kale, spinach, carrots, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers
Fennel	Fennel does not work well in the same pot as other vegetables. Plant in a separate pot.
Calendula	Chard, radishes, tomatoes, thyme, parsley
Dill	Asparagus, cucumbers, lettuce, basil, cabbage
Chives	Strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, squash, eggplant, carrots

If you don’t wish to plant a ladybug attractant, try gently spraying an attractant on your plant.

What attracts ladybugs:

Rosemary or garlic oil are great sprays that can draw ladybugs in. These oils attract ladybugs and will draw the carnivorous creatures to your garden. Beware: you eat anything you spray on your plant! Avoid chemical sprays and instead create your own all-natural options.

Stop using insecticides.

While insecticides are helpful for destroying pests, they are harmful for attracting ladybugs. Insecticide — even all-natural ones — will kill your ladybugs. If you want to attract ladybugs to your garden, you will need to stop using insecticides for a period of time.

Purchase ladybugs

If you are not able to attract ladybugs to your garden naturally, you can purchase them at a store. The trick is to release them into your garden and keep them there. The easiest way to do this is to make food, shelter, and water readily available so that they are inclined to stay put.

After you purchase your ladybugs, place them in the fridge for 6-8 hours to slow them down. This will not kill them, but slow them from flying off immediately after you release them. Then, release them right after dusk or right before dawn. Do not release them at twilight — they will quickly fly away.

Consider placing an aphid infested plant, flowering plants ladybugs enjoy, or a few raisins near your gardens. These are ladybug foods and will help them feel comfortable. Additionally, gently water your plants right before your release so your ladybugs have access to water quickly.

Ladybug FAQs