Being a plant parent comes with many responsibilities, but the most crucial is protecting our plants from pests and harmful insects. With the aid of garden animals, you can control these pests without pesticides. Interesting, right? Here are five garden animals that promote healthy plant growth and deter garden-destroying pests away from your plant.

Ants

We don’t like ants when we see them in plants but plants like them. Believe it or not, ants support plant growth in several ways. Ants dig tunnels and aerate the soil, thereby facilitating the transport of water, oxygen, and nutrients to plant roots. Also, ants act as excellent decomposers, they decompose organic matter such as leaves, and dead insects, thereby fertilizing plants.

Worms

You may think of using artificial fertilizers to aid plant growth. But that is not necessary when you have worms in your garden. Worms indirectly support plant growth and create a healthy ecosystem in traditional gardening. Furthermore, they make excellent aeration and drainage channels, forming a healthy soil structure for plants. Worms remove surface debris and fungal spores from the garden.

In addition, Worm faeces are rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, which are essential minerals for plant growth. After the death of worms, their protein-rich bodies return the nitrogen fertilizer to the soil.

Butterflies

Butterflies are beautiful creatures that make people smile and wonder about nature. Besides that, they act as important pollinators for some plants. Butterflies rely on plants for food, and plants depend on butterflies for pollination. Flower nectar is the food for butterflies, and by flying from flower to flower in search of nectar, they act as carriers of pollen and help plants reproduce.

Moreover, Butterflies play an essential role in maintaining the food chain. They are the food source for some animals like birds, lizards, spiders, etc., So if they were to become extinct, other species would begin to become extinct too. The presence of butterflies is a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

Spiders

Spiders are pretty terrible creatures, but they are plants’ best friends. Spiders do not eat plant leaves or roots. They are predatory species and eat only insects. The presence of spiders in your garden will reduce the number of insects. The floral scent attracts the spider. So, floral plants in your garden act as an invitation signal to spiders.

However, spiders do not provide any other benefits to plants besides protecting them from insects.

Lizards

Generally, people do not like the presence of lizards in their gardens, but they are the ideal partner for your garden. Like spiders, lizards do not eat plant leaves and roots. Many species of lizards eat insects and pests such as ants, beetles, cockroaches, and spiders.

Furthermore, if you wish to have lizards in your garden, you can attract them by creating an appealing atmosphere for them as follows:

• Give them a safe shelter in a sunlight area using old tires, hollow rocks, and brick piles.
• Avoid using pesticides frequently. Pesticides act as a repellent for lizards.
• Cultivate floral plants that produce nectar. Nectars in flowers attract insects. These insects act as prey and attract lizards.