All gardeners urged to add 'sacrificial plant' to garden to 'protect blooms'

Lots of us spend time trying to make our gardens look as lovely as possible but sometimes pests can get in the way. A plant pest is any organism that can cause damage or harm to plants, and they can include insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses and even other plants.

Common examples include aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and slugs, as all of these can cause significant damage to plants and reduce crop yields. However, if you want to protect your blooms as much as possible, it turns out you may just need to plant one simple flower in your garden and it could make a really big difference.

To help people out, expert at Mr Fothergill's, David Fryer, has offered some essential advice. With over 30,000 followers on Instagram, the brand has been inspiring gardeners since way back in 1978 - and David has shared all sorts of tips, including how to rid weeds from gardens.

David said: "Some plants are so tasty to pests that they are happy to spend their time on them and stay away from your valuable crops. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum) do this and can keep other flowers and crops clear of damage.

"Nasturtiums are a favourite plant for many different aphids and draw the pest away from your flowers and crops while being surprisingly tolerant of infestation themselves."

David added: "They also attract beetles, such as the flea beetle and butterflies, like the Cabbage White, whose caterpillars can cause significant damage to plants. With their vibrant flowers, they also look great and attract beneficial insects, such as hoverflies, which eat pests."

There are lots of ways you can keep pests away from plants in a natural way. Sometimes you just need to try a few different things to witness results.

To keep pests away, a multi-pronged approach is recommended, such as working to attract beneficial insects, companion planting, using physical barriers and keeping the soil nice and healthy.

Some people also recommend using homemade solutions, including vinegar, to aid the problem. Even though some people praise it, it's generally considered a short-term effort to control pests since it is not effective as a long-term treatment against serious pest infestations.

Not to mention, it won't keep pests completely away from your property. This is why it's best to follow gardening experts tips.

If you suffer with aphids in the garden, David also offered some additional advice. He said: "Greenfly and blackfly are the scourge of the garden, infesting a seemingly endless range of plant types. They suck the sap from leaves and stems, distorting growth and making plants unsightly.

"But not all plants are susceptible. Lavender is an excellent smelling plant with silvery foliage and spikes of purple flower heads. A great pollinator plant, attractive to bees, it looks good in any garden, either in theborder or in containers.

"If you plant it close to plants prone to aphids, such as roses, you will undoubtedly help keep the pests away. Another deterrent is garlic, which you can plant next to roses to deter aphid infestations or use as a spray."

There are ways to manage insect and disease problems in your garden without having to use pesticides. You just need to learn to be patient.

When it comes to diseases, this is often more about limiting disease spread rather than eradicating it completely. There are lots of tips you can try to aid the situation.