In a world where bugs and critters have long been considered unwelcome guests, a paradigm shift is occurring.
It was a random afternoon when I saw a friend of mine, who is an awesome homesteader, building a small pond in his garden to attract frogs and toads. Upon asking, he explained not all insects are foes. In fact, many of these tiny creatures can be valuable friends, offering a plethora of benefits to your garden.
To hop on this wagon, I conducted thorough research and discovered numerous other intriguing creepy crawlers that deserve a warm welcome in your garden.
Don’t worry, my fellows; I am not going to make you feel left out! In this article, I will write about the world of beneficial bugs, unveiling their roles and contributions.
After extensive research and many trials and errors, I have formulated a list of crawlers I love to host in my garden. To make it much simpler for you, I have also discussed how you can attract these tiny heroes.
So, without further ado, let’s start with my favorite one.
Ladybugs
I love having ladybugs in my garden, and it’s not just because they look cool. These tiny heroes have played a crucial role in helping me eliminate troublesome pests like aphids, mealybugs, and other small insects.
Their natural pest control abilities make them valuable allies in maintaining a healthy and thriving garden.
How to Attract Ladybugs
Mulching is one of the easiest ways to attract ladybugs into your garden. Ladybugs appreciate places to hide and lay their eggs. Mulch, ground cover plants, and leaf litter can provide these hidden spots.
Related: If You See These Bugs In Your Garden, Get Rid Of Them Immediately!
Bees
If you’re someone like me who loves to promote biodiversity and achieve bountiful harvests simultaneously, then bees are your invaluable allies in the garden.
Basically, bees are exceptional pollinators. Their visits to flowers facilitate the transfer of pollen between male and female plant parts, leading to successful fertilization and fruit development.
How to Attract Bees
The most fun way to attract bees in your garden is by planting flowers.
You can have native wildflowers, herbs like lavender and rosemary, and garden favorites like sunflowers, zinnias, and asters. Among these delightful choices, sunflowers have always held a special place in my heart for their bright hues that attract bees, encouraging them to dance amidst their golden petals.
Praying Mantises
As a homesteader, the constant fear of pest invasions causing havoc in my garden weighed heavily on my mind. However, a turning point in my pest management strategy came when I welcomed the remarkable creatures known as praying mantises into my garden.
How to Attract Praying Mantises
To attract praying mantises into your garden, you need to avoid pruning your garden too aggressively. Praying mantises may lay their egg cases on plant stems or branches. So, leaving some of these areas undisturbed can provide a safe place for their eggs to hatch.
Earthworms
Previously, looking after my garden was a challenge due to my demanding schedule. However, introducing earthworms into my garden proved to be a game-changer.
With diligent tunneling and soil-wiggling, these remarkable creatures effectively transformed my garden’s condition.
How to Attract Earthworms
Earthworms are known to thrive in soil that is rich in organic matter.
I enriched the soil by incorporating compost, leaf litter, and various organic materials to welcome these crawlers into my garden. These materials provided a food source for earthworms and helped create a favorable environment for them.
Ants
Controversial example, right?
While ants can be considered pests in some situations, in the garden, they can prove to be efficient workers who help improve the ecosystem. Now, you might be wondering how that is even possible?! Ants burrow themselves into the soil, creating channels that improve aeration. This helps in the circulation of air and water, which can benefit plant roots.
How to Attract Ants
To ensure that my garden has frequent visits of ants, I provided appropriate nesting sites. Some ants would prefer leaf litter, dead wood, and stones. You could have a corner or some areas of your garden undisturbed so ants can create natural nesting spots. You would need to control them, so everything would not go out of hand.
Also, I would advise not to mulch heavily and avoid landscaping practices to not disturb the ant nests.
Centipedes
Centipedes might not be the most appealing garden residents to some, but their presence can significantly benefit your garden’s ecosystem. I considered them pesky creatures until they were there to rescue my garden from a snail invasion, using their venomous claws.
How to Attract Centipedes
Centipedes thrive in environments with high moisture levels, so to attract them to your garden, you must maintain consistently damp soil conditions. Additionally, reducing the use of chemical pesticides can prove effective in hosting centipedes, as it helps preserve their prey.
Related: If You See This Jumping Worm In Your Garden, Kill It Immediately!
Nematodes
If you aim to enhance the soil quality in your garden, one of the most straightforward methods is introducing nematodes into the soil. These organisms play a multifaceted role in the soil ecosystem.
They facilitate the transformation of nutrients into plant-accessible forms and effectively consume disease-causing organisms.
How to Attract Nematodes
Attracting nematodes to your garden can be achieved through several effective methods. One approach is utilizing beneficial plants such as marigolds and sunflowers.
Moreover, practicing crop rotation has proven highly effective in my experience. It not only maintains a balanced nematode population but also improves the health of your garden soil.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, not all crawlers are as pesky as they seem.
Many of these creatures are valuable in our gardens, contributing to a healthier and more vibrant ecosystem. Hopefully, with my list of 7 creepy crawlers you should welcome in your garden, you’re well-prepared to have a greener haven.
So, what are you waiting for? Get up and start working just according to the tips I have provided in this guide! Best of luck!
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