Ladybugs
Ladybugs are one of the garden's best natural aphid controls — a single ladybug can eat dozens of aphids a day, larvae included.
Attracting Them Naturally
Ladybugs are drawn to flat-topped, nectar-rich flowers like dill, fennel, yarrow, and cosmos. Planting a mix of these alongside vulnerable crops gives ladybugs a reason to stick around even after the aphids they're eating start to thin out.
Skip the Store-Bought Release
Purchased ladybugs are usually collected from the wild and tend to fly off within a day or two of release, especially if there isn't enough food and water waiting for them. A garden that already attracts ladybugs naturally will keep its population far more reliably.
Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides in areas where you want ladybugs to establish — even organic sprays can wipe out the population you're trying to encourage.
