How Do I Create A Garden With A Focus On Attracting Beneficial Hoverflies?

If you're looking to make your garden more beautiful and beneficial to your local ecosystem, consider adding some sweet alyssum plants. Not only do they give off a lovely scent and provide a pop of color, they also attract beneficial insects like hoverflies.

Hoverflies, also known as syrphid flies, are important pollinators and are great for natural pest control. Here's how to get them in your garden:

Plant sweet alyssum: As mentioned, these plants are a great attractant for hoverflies. They are easy to grow from seed and do well in full sun to partial shade.
Limit pesticide use: Hoverflies are sensitive to pesticides, so using them sparingly or not at all can help attract more of them to your garden.
Provide water: Hoverflies need water to survive, so having a shallow dish of water in your garden can provide a necessary resource for them.
Don't tidy up too much: Hoverflies like to lay their eggs on decaying plant matter, so leaving some dead leaves or grass clippings around can provide a habitat for them.
Offer other food sources: While sweet alyssum is a great attractant for hoverflies, other flowering plants can also provide nectar for them to feed on.
Provide shelter: Hoverflies need a place to rest and hide from predators. Having plants with dense foliage or creating artificial shelters like small piles of twigs or rocks can give them a safe place to hang out.

Hoverflies are not only beautiful insects to watch, but they are also important contributors to a healthy garden ecosystem. They help to pollinate plants and control pests, making your garden more sustainable and self-sufficient. Plus, sweet alyssum plants are a great addition to any garden anyway, so it's a win-win situation!

In summary, if you want to attract hoverflies to your garden, plant some sweet alyssum, limit pesticide use, provide water and shelter, and offer other food sources. Plus, don't tidy up too much and let some decaying plant matter stick around for them to lay their eggs on. With these tips, you'll be able to create a welcoming habitat for these important insects and enjoy all the benefits they provide.