Don't Toss Old Nursery Pots, Use Them To Attract Beneficial Insects To The Garden

If you are someone who thinks of insects as creepy crawlies, then the idea of intentionally attracting them into your garden may seem a little counterintuitive. However, there are actually quite a few good bugs that'll chase pests from your garden and help protect your plants in other ways, too. One great example is the lacewing. These small creatures are identifiable by their clear, lace-like wings and are considered desirable in many gardens because they like to snack on harmful pests such as aphids. In addition, because the diet of mature lacewings also includes the nectar and pollen of flowers, they make great pollinators due to the pollen that they move from flower to flower.

So, if you're now convinced that lacewings are definitely a beneficial friend to have nearby, you may be wondering about some easy ways that you can bring good insects into your garden. Well, believe it or not, you can actually attract lacewings to your outdoor space without having to buy any new or fancy equipment. Instead, you can transform a simple nursery pot into a sort of "bug hotel" that will encourage them to set up shop on your property. All this simple project requires is an old nursery pot — such as the ones that store-bought plants come in — and some organic materials like twigs or pieces of bamboo. By filling the pot with these natural items, you are offering the lacewings a safe place to hide from predators and get ready to lay their eggs. Let's explore how to go about crafting your very own bug hotel to give local lacewings a reason to make your yard their new home.

Bug hotels can be attractive to a range of different beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs. However, if you want to specifically attract lacewings for their pest control and pollination abilities, there are a few tips that can help your bug hotel be particularly appealing to them. For example, lacewings are reported to like longer, tube-shaped crevices, particularly in winter when they are hibernating and staying away from predators. To do this in an old nursery pot, simply turn the pot on its side and fill it with lots of long twigs, sticks, bamboo pieces, and cardboard.

Then, find somewhere that the pot can lay on its side so that the bugs can easily crawl into all the narrow gaps between the different objects. Laying the shelter on its side also helps to protect the natural materials you have placed inside so that they do not become too wet or clogged up. Alternatively, you can attach a hook to the side of the pot so that it can hang horizontally, allowing the lacewings to fly inside. Remember, the pot should be placed somewhere that is well-shaded to keep the shelter at a good temperature for the insects. In addition, putting the bug hotel near plants can help the insects in the area spot it more quickly. At the beginning of summer, you should consider changing out the materials in your improvised lacewing shelter because that is when the insects will likely be out of hibernation and busy making your garden a pollinator heaven.