How to Keep Bugs From Eating Herbs

Vary your crops. Having too many of the same herb in one location often leads to an infestation because many insects do not attack the same herb.

Rotate your herbs every year. A few aphids or slugs one year can turn into an infestation the next if you place the same plant in the same location. If you planted basil in one part of your garden last year, plant mint or oregano in the spot this year, moving the basil to the mint or oregano's old location.

Plant herbs in small batches if you are growing your herbs in the ground. This helps to prevent any infestations from spreading to your entire crop. If you are planting in pots, make sure not to overcrowd each pot, and limit grouping them all together.

Place herbs near spicy garden plants, such as peppers. These vegetables tend to deter insects.

Inspect your plants thoroughly before each watering. Look underneath the leaves, in the space between the stems and near the base of the plant. You can manually pick off any stray pests or wash the leaves of the herbs when watering. If using this method, make sure you water your herbs early in the morning to give the leaves ample drying time before nightfall. Watering at night can result in your herbs developing diseases.

Wash leaves with an organic insecticidal soap to eliminate any infestations. Make sure to cover each leaf on both sides because bugs like to hide under the leaves.

Dust herb leaves with diatomaceous earth, a dust made from rock, to repel and kill off spider mites and slugs. You can find this at most garden supply centers.

Treat potted plants by dipping the entire plant in an organic pesticide twice a week for a month. This allows for the entire plant to be treated, and increases the chances of the pesticide reaching all of the plants. Because the pesticides that are safe for herbs are not particularly strong, and typically wear off shortly after application, a large infestation will require you do this often to break the cycle.