How to attract insects to your garden

1. Grow insect-friendly plants 

If you add a diversity of plants to your garden, the diversity of insects will increase, simply because different insects like different types of plant. 

Buddleia (Buddleja), also known as the 'butterfly bush' is a favourite of lepidopterists (butterfly experts) by attracting a wide variety of species, like peacock (Aglais io) and red admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta). 

Lavender (Lavandula) is another butterfly-attractor, as it provides a rich source of nectar in the summer. 

Try planting plants that smell fragrant when they bloom. Pollinators love flowers that with a strong smell, as most butterflies and some insects find their foodplants by smell, not sight. 

Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) are a great insect to have in the garden as they keep populations of aphids (Aphidoidea) under control: these sap-sucking insects can damage your plants. 

Ladybirds love the flowers of chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and dill (Anethum graveolens) as well as plants like marigold (Tagetes) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). 

Did you know? There are over 40 species of ladybirds in the UK.

3. Let an area of your garden grow wild 

The messier the garden the better! 

Of course, you don't have to let your whole garden turn into a jungle, but you can apply this principle to a small patch of lawn or a hidden corner because insects will thrive in something a bit wilder. 

Piles of leaves, twigs or stones make great habitats for insects and other wildlife like frogs and newts so feel free to scrape them into one section into your garden and let the creatures come.

5. Build a pond 

Ponds are incredible habitats for insects like dragonflies (Anisoptera), damselflies (Zygoptera) and water beetles (Adephaga). Many insects lay eggs in the water for their young to grow, so it's a great safe place for them.

If you're short on space, you could convert a large pot or an upturned dustbin lid into a small nature pond. 

Not only do a lot of insects start their life in ponds, but the water is a drinking source for birds, hedgehogs and foxes. 

Grass snakes (Natrix natrix) may make an appearance, and frogs and newts can be seen in spring. Bats (Chiroptera) love to eat flying insects that leave ponds in the summer. 

Make sure the pond has a sloping edge as a way for creatures to get out, like a ramp or branch - many can swim but can't climb. 

Remember to plant oxygenating plants underwater, as well as plants with long stems poking out of the water.

These stems give dragonfly and damselflies a helping hand. When the larvae are ready to leave the pond, they crawl onto plant stems to shed their skin and release their wings. They perch on the plant until their wings harden up and they're ready to fly. 

7. Plant wildflowers

Wildflowers are easy to grow and maintain and are a great way to attract insects to your garden.

As well as providing a pop of colour from spring through to autumn, they attract insects like butterflies, ladybirds and bees. 

Aim to plant flowers of different shapes and sizes to attract a variety of insects. Try plants like oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare), bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and corn marigold (Glebionis segetum). 

Be inspired by our Coronation Meadow at Wakehurst, which is full of native flowers and grasses. 

Create your own insect-friendly garden with seeds from the Kew shop.