What do you think?
Rate this book
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control
“Jessica Walliser lets readers in on the secrets to a garden that buzzes with activity. Her profiles, on the insects that fight pests and the best plants for attracting them, offer clear, practical tips.” — Martha Stewart Living
Say goodbye to common pests like spider mites, aphids, and leafhoppers just by planting a beautiful garden full of the right flowers and herbs! In Attracting Beneficial Bugs , organic gardening expert Jessica Walliser provides an accessible guide to selecting, placing, and caring for plants that will invite beneficial insects into your garden to do the dirty work of pest control for you. You’ll learn which plants lure in pest-eating predators and how to design a beautiful garden that provides for these beneficial bugs throughout the year.
Say goodbye to common pests like spider mites, aphids, and leafhoppers just by planting a beautiful garden full of the right flowers and herbs! In Attracting Beneficial Bugs , organic gardening expert Jessica Walliser provides an accessible guide to selecting, placing, and caring for plants that will invite beneficial insects into your garden to do the dirty work of pest control for you. You’ll learn which plants lure in pest-eating predators and how to design a beautiful garden that provides for these beneficial bugs throughout the year.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2013
51 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Walliser
8 books13 followersJessica Walliser co-hosts “The Organic Gardeners” on KDKA-Radio in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a former contributing editor for Organic Gardening magazine and a regular contributor to many national gardening publications. In addition, Jessica is the Acquisitions Editor for Quarto Publishing Group’s gardening imprint, Cool Springs Press.
Her two weekly gardening columns for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review have been enjoyed by readers for over ten years. Her fourth book, Attracting Beneficial Bugs to the Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control, was released by Timber Press in January of 2014 and was awarded the American Horticultural Society’s Book Award. Jessica’s 2018 title, Container Gardening Complete, teaches gardeners how to grow anything and everything in containers.
The former owner of a 25-acre organic market farm, Jessica received her degree in ornamental horticulture from The Pennsylvania State University. She’s taught a diverse array of gardening topics for over 25 years and is a former faculty member of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
She is author of the Amazon best-seller Good Bug, Bad Bug: Who’s Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically, and her forthcoming book, Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants, is slated for publication in June of 2019. Jessica is a co-owner of the popular gardening blog SavvyGardening.com where you’ll find her writing about a wide diversity of gardening subjects.
Jessica lives and gardens northwest of Pittsburgh with her husband and son, six chickens, two cats, two hermit crabs, and billions and billions of very good bugs.
Her two weekly gardening columns for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review have been enjoyed by readers for over ten years. Her fourth book, Attracting Beneficial Bugs to the Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control, was released by Timber Press in January of 2014 and was awarded the American Horticultural Society’s Book Award. Jessica’s 2018 title, Container Gardening Complete, teaches gardeners how to grow anything and everything in containers.
The former owner of a 25-acre organic market farm, Jessica received her degree in ornamental horticulture from The Pennsylvania State University. She’s taught a diverse array of gardening topics for over 25 years and is a former faculty member of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
She is author of the Amazon best-seller Good Bug, Bad Bug: Who’s Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically, and her forthcoming book, Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants, is slated for publication in June of 2019. Jessica is a co-owner of the popular gardening blog SavvyGardening.com where you’ll find her writing about a wide diversity of gardening subjects.
Jessica lives and gardens northwest of Pittsburgh with her husband and son, six chickens, two cats, two hermit crabs, and billions and billions of very good bugs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 6, 2024
Easy to read and lots of great photographs. I expect to reference this many times in the future.
March 27, 2015
Fantastic book if you are looking for natural ways to control pest bugs in your yard/garden. Lots of plant advice, some really good garden plans and the always popular gross pictures of bugs eating other bugs. Very recommended.
February 12, 2022
Oh, wow!!! This book is very pretty. It had a lot more information than I was capable of understanding in just reading it, but, with that said, it would make an excellent coffee table book or reference book for the garden. I am wanting to use the info from near the end of the book to help add some companion plantings to my garden. The book will also come in handy as a reference book for deciding if the bugs I find are beneficial or not.
November 8, 2013
I requested this book as soon as I saw it from netgalley (free copy in exchange for honest review) because one of my many, many hobbies, is gardening - specifically vegetable gardening. I've only had one for two years now, and I've learned almost everything from my boss at my day job - a great guy who knows landscaping and gardening inside, out, and backwards. He's forgotten more then I'll ever learn.
He started talking bugs to me from the first day I mentioned we were going to start a garden, and hasn't stopped yet - and this book is written in the same chatty style my boss uses to teach me about how to improve my garden, by using nature herself. I use very, very little chemicals in my garden, and what I do use, is it get rid of the bad bugs, so learning more ways to get rid of them, and get more good bugs - and to eliminate the chemical garbage - is a very good thing.
Not only is the book written in a chatty, educational way, but the photos are gorgeous and an inspiration.
The book begins explaining the author's personal history when it comes to gardening and bugs, and then morphs from there to talk about why you should be interested in attracting bugs in the first place, and just why they are so good for not only the garden, but the environment as well. Some sections include more information then I personally ever wanted to know, but I think for those really serious gardeners, they'll enjoy sinking their teeth into the real meat of the book.
He started talking bugs to me from the first day I mentioned we were going to start a garden, and hasn't stopped yet - and this book is written in the same chatty style my boss uses to teach me about how to improve my garden, by using nature herself. I use very, very little chemicals in my garden, and what I do use, is it get rid of the bad bugs, so learning more ways to get rid of them, and get more good bugs - and to eliminate the chemical garbage - is a very good thing.
Not only is the book written in a chatty, educational way, but the photos are gorgeous and an inspiration.
The book begins explaining the author's personal history when it comes to gardening and bugs, and then morphs from there to talk about why you should be interested in attracting bugs in the first place, and just why they are so good for not only the garden, but the environment as well. Some sections include more information then I personally ever wanted to know, but I think for those really serious gardeners, they'll enjoy sinking their teeth into the real meat of the book.
May 10, 2016
I didn't read this straight through because I can't read about bugs during my lunch break, but I did use it to make a plant list for the library garden. It is extra useful because the author lives in my state so the plant suggestions are targeted to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
February 7, 2022
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control by Jessica Walliser is updated with new research, insights, and voices in order to teach readers how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides. After an introduction to the predator and prey cycle and its importance to both wild ecosystems and home gardens, you'll meet dozens of pest-munching beneficial insects (the predators) that feast on garden pests (their prey). From ladybugs and lacewings to parasitic wasps and syrphid flies, these good guys of the bug world keep the natural system of checks and balances in prime working order. They help limit pest damage and also serve a valuable role in the garden's food web. With a hearty population of beneficial insects present in your garden, you'll say goodbye to common garden pests like aphids, cabbage worms, bean beetles, leafhoppers, and hornworms, without reaching for a spray can. To encourage these good guys to stick around and do their important work, you'll learn how to create a welcoming habitat and fill your garden with the best plants to support them.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden is a valuable resource for gardeners that would prefer to avoid using chemicals on their lawn, garden, or landscape in general. I like that the author includes personal experience as well as the science and benefits of this approach.I like that interviews with entomologists and detailed information on the lives of some of the specific insects and plants talked about are included. I found the tips on creating a space that encourages beneficial insects to call home to be valuable and interesting. Information on companion planting, and how various plants and insects interact was thoroughly explained and I definitely learned a great deal from this book. I found the content to be well organized, which makes it good for reading straight through of focusing on a specific topic of interest when you need it. I thought it could be a valuable resource for new and experienced gardeners. The information is accessible, but still provides a great depth of information. I also liked that there is a usable index and recommended resources included at the end of the book. This always makes me happy. Perhaps, with this newfound knowledge, I can manage to solve the issues I have with a particular corner of my yard.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden would be a valuable addition to a gardener's personal library as well as in public libraries.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden is a valuable resource for gardeners that would prefer to avoid using chemicals on their lawn, garden, or landscape in general. I like that the author includes personal experience as well as the science and benefits of this approach.I like that interviews with entomologists and detailed information on the lives of some of the specific insects and plants talked about are included. I found the tips on creating a space that encourages beneficial insects to call home to be valuable and interesting. Information on companion planting, and how various plants and insects interact was thoroughly explained and I definitely learned a great deal from this book. I found the content to be well organized, which makes it good for reading straight through of focusing on a specific topic of interest when you need it. I thought it could be a valuable resource for new and experienced gardeners. The information is accessible, but still provides a great depth of information. I also liked that there is a usable index and recommended resources included at the end of the book. This always makes me happy. Perhaps, with this newfound knowledge, I can manage to solve the issues I have with a particular corner of my yard.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden would be a valuable addition to a gardener's personal library as well as in public libraries.
January 17, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden is an accessible and logical guide to natural pest control for gardeners written by Jessica Walliser. Due out 1st Feb 2022 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is the second/revised edition of the book which was first published in 2013. I don't own a copy of the first edition for comparison, so the review covers only the second. The layout is inviting and logically arranged. The introduction covers the basics of entomology and concepts: what are beneficial insects, how they work and what they eat (harmful bugs, mostly). The intro is followed by a bestiary with some of the most common groups of insectivorous and parasitoid bugs.
The book is lavishly illustrated with clear color photos throughout. The photos show featured insects in various life stages including eggs, pupa, and adults which make identification easier. Tips and extra info is included in highlighted text boxes throughout. Photo captions are well written and easy to understand. The chapter on useful plants for native pollinators and parasitoids has been written with a good eye toward garden design and diversity. There are a lot of plants which are beautiful and useful and which people will want to plant in their gardens (instead of hiding the weedy looking ones). There's a lot of info about companion planting and I was interested to see that the author covers purchasable controls and predator species.
There's an abbreviated resource and links list in the back of the book which is mostly slanted toward readers in the USA but will also provide relevant info for readers living in other parts of the world. The book also includes a cross referenced index.
No single book is going to be the holy grail of gardening information; this one does a good job of deep diving into an important (and often overlooked) aspect of natural controls and organic methods.
Five stars. This would make a good selection for public or school library acquisition, makers groups, gardening and activity groups, home and community gardeners, smallholders, and the like.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden is an accessible and logical guide to natural pest control for gardeners written by Jessica Walliser. Due out 1st Feb 2022 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is the second/revised edition of the book which was first published in 2013. I don't own a copy of the first edition for comparison, so the review covers only the second. The layout is inviting and logically arranged. The introduction covers the basics of entomology and concepts: what are beneficial insects, how they work and what they eat (harmful bugs, mostly). The intro is followed by a bestiary with some of the most common groups of insectivorous and parasitoid bugs.
The book is lavishly illustrated with clear color photos throughout. The photos show featured insects in various life stages including eggs, pupa, and adults which make identification easier. Tips and extra info is included in highlighted text boxes throughout. Photo captions are well written and easy to understand. The chapter on useful plants for native pollinators and parasitoids has been written with a good eye toward garden design and diversity. There are a lot of plants which are beautiful and useful and which people will want to plant in their gardens (instead of hiding the weedy looking ones). There's a lot of info about companion planting and I was interested to see that the author covers purchasable controls and predator species.
There's an abbreviated resource and links list in the back of the book which is mostly slanted toward readers in the USA but will also provide relevant info for readers living in other parts of the world. The book also includes a cross referenced index.
No single book is going to be the holy grail of gardening information; this one does a good job of deep diving into an important (and often overlooked) aspect of natural controls and organic methods.
Five stars. This would make a good selection for public or school library acquisition, makers groups, gardening and activity groups, home and community gardeners, smallholders, and the like.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
March 25, 2022
I really love this book, it makes sense, that having good bugs are more efficient, cheaper, safer and less labour intensive then chemical alternatives. The photos and information in this book is very easy to understand and the photos make it easy to identify the bugs that lurk in the garden. The plants to grow are very easy to obtain and make wonder addition to the garden.
This book is a must for anyone who loves their garden.
I know how frustrating it is to see your plants been ravaged by bugs, but from my experience with a little patience, one can control the bad bugs. We have always been biodynamic and organic, recently we moved to a garden that had pesticides constantly in use. I planted some roses and the aphids nearly took them all out, but as the tole continued I notice ladybugs and hover fly in the garden, the next year produced more of these good bugs and little of the bad. Four year on I have a healthy garden with lots of bugs, butterflies , wonderful roses and other plants that encourage good bugs, I do have the occasional infestation of grasshopper but I also have friendly Magpies that eat them... I reckon that a win in!
This book is a must for anyone who loves their garden.
I know how frustrating it is to see your plants been ravaged by bugs, but from my experience with a little patience, one can control the bad bugs. We have always been biodynamic and organic, recently we moved to a garden that had pesticides constantly in use. I planted some roses and the aphids nearly took them all out, but as the tole continued I notice ladybugs and hover fly in the garden, the next year produced more of these good bugs and little of the bad. Four year on I have a healthy garden with lots of bugs, butterflies , wonderful roses and other plants that encourage good bugs, I do have the occasional infestation of grasshopper but I also have friendly Magpies that eat them... I reckon that a win in!
January 17, 2022
I have been drawn to beautiful gardens all my life. I have not really had the opportunity to create my own, but I still love learning about them. I was curious about this book because I know you cannot have a thriving garden without a healthy bug population as well. This book does an excellent job of teaching you about both and brings a healthy dose of balance. There are excellent photos provided for this novice who has no idea what I am looking for. A lot of information is provided that can either be taken in all at once, or more topically, if desired. Chapters are ordered out in a logical fashion and the content is written for all to understand. This is encouraging for me, because again, novice here! When I am ready and able to set up my own garden, this will be one of my go-to resources.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
August 11, 2023
Walliser, in her introduction, admits that she likes bugs more than plants. This is borne out in her book.
I, however, now know for sure that I love plants more than bugs. I got partway through her loving, painstaking descriptions of the beneficial bugs and what they do and why they are so interesting and skipped right to the part where she started talking about plants again. I wish I had the interest and stamina, but I do not.
And this is probably a me-problem - and Walliser is so kind as to say that, really, a mere 1% of your property is a good % of your property to be covered with beneficial-bug-friendly plants - but I find them all so, especially en masse, untidy. Sigh. I feel deficient as an environmentalist and decolonizer (don't worry, not only for this reason), but there it is. I am sure there is a way to have a garden that is pollinator-and-bug-friendly AND aesthetically appealing to me, and I'm sure I'll find it some day.
I, however, now know for sure that I love plants more than bugs. I got partway through her loving, painstaking descriptions of the beneficial bugs and what they do and why they are so interesting and skipped right to the part where she started talking about plants again. I wish I had the interest and stamina, but I do not.
And this is probably a me-problem - and Walliser is so kind as to say that, really, a mere 1% of your property is a good % of your property to be covered with beneficial-bug-friendly plants - but I find them all so, especially en masse, untidy. Sigh. I feel deficient as an environmentalist and decolonizer (don't worry, not only for this reason), but there it is. I am sure there is a way to have a garden that is pollinator-and-bug-friendly AND aesthetically appealing to me, and I'm sure I'll find it some day.
January 20, 2022
Any gardener who has a love/hate relationship with bugs needs to give this book a read. I've just started to ramp up outdoor gardening, and have had some trouble with various pests. Filled with gorgeous, high resolution pictures, this book explains exactly why you should let nature take it's course (in most cases) and not to overreact and just spray everything with pesticides. I especially loved the plant profiles which gave me tons of ideas for my garden this year, and I've already ordered several sets of seeds based on this book. I also appreciated that there was a guide on optimizing positioning of each plant, which is something I really hadn't thought about much. I know I will be coming back to this book all year long as I try these new plants and strategies.
Thank you to Jessica Walliser, Quarto, and Edelweiss for free access to this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Jessica Walliser, Quarto, and Edelweiss for free access to this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2021
There is so much important and fascinating information in this book about the beneficial bugs needed in one's garden. It begins with the author telling how, as a horticulturist, she came to understand the best method of controlling harmful bugs instead of spraying them. There is a natural balance to be achieved.
Chapters:
All About Beneficials;
Beneficial Bug Profiles;
Gardening For Bugs;
Plant Profiles;
Your Beneficial Border;
Companion Planting;
Putting It All Together;
The Commercial Stuff.
Fabulous illustrations using photography.
I used this book for prompt "includes a garden" in the 52bookclub challenge.
Chapters:
All About Beneficials;
Beneficial Bug Profiles;
Gardening For Bugs;
Plant Profiles;
Your Beneficial Border;
Companion Planting;
Putting It All Together;
The Commercial Stuff.
Fabulous illustrations using photography.
I used this book for prompt "includes a garden" in the 52bookclub challenge.
December 28, 2022
Nonfiction- gardening. This book is perhaps meant more to flip through than to read in its entirety, but I read it cover to cover. It has various sections in it, with the two largest sections being beneficial bug profiles and profiles of plants that attract said bugs. There is also information about how bugs and plants communicate, ideas for interplanting flowering plants with herbs and vegetables, and interviews with various experts in sidebars. I'm hoping that my slow reading of this book can help some of the information sink in, but this would be a candidate for a reference book to keep on hand. An important piece of the movement away from lawns and pesticides.
September 5, 2023
80% of all animals are insects, and of those, 99% are beneficial or benign. Even if you're not a bug-lover, this book will help you appreciate those hard-working bugs around your garden, and why you may want to attract even more by planting certain flowers and shrubs. You will also learn why the first sign of an insect pest is usually no reason to panic. After an interesting peek into the world of beneficials, Walliser provides a catalogue of helpful insects and plants. Filled with quality photos and vivid behavioral descriptions, this book will likely cause you see your garden from a whole new perspective.
March 26, 2020
“I now garden for someone else instead of just for me. I used to go to the nursery and buy a plant because I liked the flower color or I thought it would look good next to my patio or I needed color in September or I liked the plant’s texture or form or whatever. Every plant I bought, I bought for me and me alone. But now I know how a beautiful garden lives in harmony with billions of insects. I choose plants for them; I garden for them as much as I do for myself. Because I know that without insects, the world wouldn’t be. Without us, however … well, who would notice?”
April 9, 2022
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to garden, and who prides themselves on having a beautiful yard. Or even for someone who loves knowledge and nature, and who loves to learn, this will be a great read. There is so much wonderful information in this book, that you'll need to have your highlighters at the ready, and a permanent place on your library shelves, in order to refer to it again and again. Happy Reading, and get ready to LEARN!
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Cool Springs Press
for this Arc. The review and opinions are solely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Cool Springs Press
for this Arc. The review and opinions are solely my own.
June 15, 2020
A book worthy of the home library. Great pictures throughout and a friendly, amusing style of writing. Lots of great information for creating an insectory border that incorporates aesthetics and practicality. While it is about natural pest control, that is almost the side effect you get from creating a diverse ecosystem that includes both form and function. Love the bugs!
September 12, 2021
Jessica did a wonderful job making creepy crawly bugs fascinating, I actually began looking for the “good “ bugs in my garden and was excited when I saw them not repulsed and wanting them to die! I have a whole new perspective! Thank you 😊 I am looking forward to planting flowers to invite beneficial bugs to my yard 😉
February 25, 2022
3 1/2 stars -- this is written by the author of one of my favorite books -- Good Bug, Bad Bug. In this book Jessica Walliser combines bugs and mostly native plants (which is a big area of interest for me right now.) The pictures are inspiring, but I found this book a little too text heavy, instead of a visual reference book which is easier to use.
March 25, 2023
I thought I would just flip through it for ideas, but I ended up reading this book straight through. It's well-organized with practical, accessible information on using natural predators to control garden pests.
I like how the author explained why certain practices and plants were helpful, and the benefits of taking just a few simple steps. It made the subject less overwhelming.
I like how the author explained why certain practices and plants were helpful, and the benefits of taking just a few simple steps. It made the subject less overwhelming.
January 5, 2026
You can tell by the cover alone that this will be a remarkable book. This is a most helpful book filled with both science and the author's opinions. It is brimming with information to help your garden thrive. Many color photographs are both beautiful, and some will make your skin crawl if you are sensitive.
February 17, 2019
I recommend this book to any gardener, any nature lover, any curious person. My eyes have been opened to the predator prey cycle of the insect world. This book is educational. This book is a resource for how to support a healthy ecosystem in your yard.
July 17, 2022
This book is so fascinating. Now in the garden, instead of squashing every bug I see, I pause and take a photo and figure out if it’s a beneficial bug. I’m excited to incorporate plants that attract beneficial bugs.
August 1, 2024
essential
Once you start paying to the insect population in your garden, you can’t help but wonder how you missed this important part of your ecosystem before. I now notice the beneficial bugs along with the pest.
Once you start paying to the insect population in your garden, you can’t help but wonder how you missed this important part of your ecosystem before. I now notice the beneficial bugs along with the pest.
November 9, 2025
This book is packed with information about plants and insects, and their interactions. I learned about the main groups of beneficial insects living in my yard and the plants they prefer. My preferences are more for native plants but the author included both. Highly recommended
August 30, 2017
It's a shame this book was based so strongly on North American bugs, however it was still an interesting read.
February 16, 2021
Solid resource
February 12, 2022
Clearly written and including humorous anecdotes, this is a great source for jnfo about the good bugs for our gardens. Which ones they are. How to attract them. How to encourage them to stay.
April 7, 2022
Informative - scientific but not too in-the-weeds; helpful (and often gross) photos of the various insects; and good ideas on do-it-yourself projects. Very useful!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews