How Do I Attract Ladybugs to My Garden? Proven Methods

Ladybugs — also known as ladybirds in New Zealand — are more than just charming, polka-dotted insects. They’re one of nature’s most effective pest control agents, feasting on garden nuisances like aphids, mealybugs, and mites. If you’ve ever battled an aphid infestation on your roses, beans, or lettuce, you’ll understand why gardeners consider ladybugs a welcome sight.

The best part? Encouraging ladybugs into your garden doesn’t require chemicals or expensive equipment — just a few strategic choices in plants, habitat, and gardening practices. In this guide, we’ll explore tips from expert gardeners on exactly how to attract ladybugs to your garden and keep them there.

In this blog you’ll learn:

• Why ladybugs are a gardener’s best friend
• How to attract ladybugs
• How keep them in your garden
• Few common myths about them

Why Ladybugs Are a Gardener’s Best Friend

Ladybugs are voracious predators of soft-bodied insects. In fact, a single ladybug can eat 50 or more aphids a day. Over their lifetime, that number can climb into the thousands. They also consume other pests like:

• Whiteflies
• Mites
• Scale insects
• Thrips

By attracting ladybugs, you’re inviting natural pest control into your garden, reducing your reliance on pesticides and keeping your plants healthier.

Step 1: Plant What Ladybugs Love

Ladybugs are attracted to certain plants that provide nectar, pollen, and a place to lay eggs. By incorporating these into your garden, you’ll create an irresistible buffet.

Flowers That Attract Ladybugs

• Dandelions – An early-season nectar source.
• Calendula (Pot Marigold) – Bright, easy to grow, and loved by beneficial insects.
• Cosmos – A summer favourite for pollinators.
• Dill, Fennel & Cilantro – Umbrella-shaped flowers that ladybugs adore.
• Yarrow – Feathery foliage and clusters of blooms that attract many beneficial insects.

Planting a variety of these ensures blooms across different seasons, providing a consistent food source.

Step 2: Avoid Pesticides

If you’re spraying broad-spectrum insecticides, you might be driving ladybugs away — or worse, killing them along with the pests.

Instead:

• Use organic pest control methods like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or physical removal of pests.
• Spot-treat problem areas rather than blanket-spraying the whole garden.
• Encourage a balanced ecosystem so beneficial insects naturally keep pest populations in check.

Step 3: Provide Shelter and Water

Ladybugs need more than just food — they also need safe places to rest, breed, and overwinter.

Shelter Options:

• Native Shrubs – Provide protection from wind and predators.
• Groundcovers – Clover or creeping thyme give cover for resting and egg-laying.
• Ladybug Houses – Small wooden structures with slits for entry; place near aphid-prone plants.

Water Source:

Ladybugs drink water, especially during hot, dry periods. Offer a shallow dish with pebbles and water so they can land safely without drowning.

Step 4: Introduce Ladybugs (Carefully)

You can purchase live ladybugs from garden centres or online suppliers. But releasing them successfully takes planning.

• Release in the Evening – Ladybugs are less likely to fly away in cooler evening temperatures.
• Mist the Plants – A light spray of water gives them something to drink right away.
• Place Near Food – Release them near plants with active aphid populations so they have an immediate meal.

Step 5: Keep Them Around

Attracting ladybugs is only half the battle — keeping them in your garden is the real win.

• Plant Successive Blooms – Ensure something is flowering from early spring to late autumn.
• Mix Crops and Flowers – Avoid monocultures; interplant vegetables with flowering herbs and ornamentals.
• Avoid Over-Cleaning – Leave some leaf litter or plant debris for overwintering.

Common Myths About Ladybugs

Myth 1: Ladybugs will only eat aphids.
Truth: While aphids are a favourite, they’ll also consume other soft-bodied pests and even pollen when insects are scarce.

Myth 2: All ladybugs are red with black spots.
Truth: Ladybugs come in many colours — yellow, orange, even black — and all can be beneficial.

Myth 3: Releasing ladybugs once is enough.
Truth: Unless you provide the right environment, they’ll quickly leave in search of better food and shelter.

The Bonus of Ladybugs: Pollination Help

While ladybugs aren’t major pollinators like bees, they do contribute. As they move from flower to flower hunting pests and sipping nectar, they help transfer pollen, supporting better yields in your vegetable garden.

Ladybugs in the New Zealand Garden

In New Zealand, both native and introduced ladybug species help control pests. The most common is the seven-spotted ladybird, a highly effective aphid predator. There’s also the two-spotted ladybird, smaller but equally beneficial.

Creating a ladybug-friendly garden in NZ also helps local biodiversity — a win for your veggies and for the environment.

Why Professional Gardening & Landscaping Help Can Boost Your Ladybug Success

Attracting ladybugs isn’t just about planting a few flowers — it’s about creating a balanced, layered garden ecosystem. This is where professional support can make a huge difference.

At Jim’s Mowing NZ, we offer expert gardening and garden landscaping services to help you:

• Plan and plant a ladybug-friendly garden layout
• Select and position plants to provide year-round food and shelter
• Reduce pest populations naturally without heavy pesticide use
• Maintain a thriving, attractive garden that’s as good for you as it is for beneficial insects

We know New Zealand’s climate and seasonal patterns — meaning we can design gardens that truly work for your location.

Conclusion

Ladybugs are a gardener’s tiny allies, devouring pests and helping your plants thrive. To attract and keep them in your garden, focus on planting the right flowers, avoiding harmful chemicals, providing shelter and water, and creating a garden that supports them year-round.

With the right approach, you’ll enjoy fewer pest problems, healthier plants, and the charming sight of ladybugs working away among your vegetables and flowers.

And if you’d like a helping hand in creating your ladybug-friendly garden, call Jim’s Mowing NZ on 0800 454 654. Our gardening and garden landscaping experts can design and maintain an outdoor space that welcomes ladybugs — and keeps your garden looking its best in every season.