More About Gilbertie’s Garden Tips: The Beneficial Insect Strategy: Invite the Right Guests 🐝
A garden without beneficial insects is a garden working much harder than it needs to. Predatory and pollinating insects provide pest control and productivity benefits that no spray program can fully replicate. The goal is to make your garden a place they want to stay.
• Provide diverse blooms across seasons: Different insects prefer different flowers. Staggered blooms from spring to fall ensure a steady food supply and support a stable population.
• Create habitat, not just food: Beneficial insects need shelter to overwinter and reproduce. Leave some leaf litter, hollow stems, and undisturbed areas to encourage long-term presence. ��
• Avoid broad-spectrum treatments: Even organic sprays can harm helpful insects. Use targeted methods and physical controls to protect your ecosystem.
A balanced garden becomes more self-sustaining over time.
Choose plants that support your ecosystem. Consult with Gilbertie’s Organic Garden Center in Westport for expert guidance on attracting beneficial insects. ����
Sponsored content from Gilbertie’s Garden Center
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• Provide diverse blooms across seasons: Different insects prefer different flowers. Staggered blooms from spring to fall ensure a steady food supply and support a stable population.
• Create habitat, not just food: Beneficial insects need shelter to overwinter and reproduce. Leave some leaf litter, hollow stems, and undisturbed areas to encourage long-term presence. ��
• Avoid broad-spectrum treatments: Even organic sprays can harm helpful insects. Use targeted methods and physical controls to protect your ecosystem.
A balanced garden becomes more self-sustaining over time.
Choose plants that support your ecosystem. Consult with Gilbertie’s Organic Garden Center in Westport for expert guidance on attracting beneficial insects. ����
Sponsored content from Gilbertie’s Garden Center
Click for Details
Date & Time
July 24, 2026
Location
Gilbertie's Herb Gardens
7 Sylvan Ln
Westport, CT 06880
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More About Gilbertie's Organic Garden Center
All of the ingredients for your perfect garden can be found at Gilbertie's Herb Gardens - from a wide selection of annuals and perennials, to extensive landscape products, to our renowned USDA Certified Organic herbs and vegetables. Tie together our plants with our extensive series of lectures and seminars and you have what you need for year-round preparation, maintenance and enjoyment of your perfect garden.
Many non-organic growers use chemicals to fertilize and treat plant diseases and pests. These chemicals leave residue on plants inside and out. Instead of spraying for bugs, we release “beneficial” insects to deal with the “bad bugs.” Each of our plants is grown in an organic certified soil blend. This custom blend has taken us four years to perfect, ensuring the highest amount of essential oil and taste in each herb and green. Hydroponically grown herbs can not compare in flavor or nutrition to their soil grown counterparts. Organic growing is sometimes more difficult, but the rewards surely outweigh the extra effort.
Gilbertie’s is a 4th generation family owned store that has been in Westport for 90 years! Providing certified organic products all over the north east. They serve the community through generous donations to local gardens, charities and schools and many free lectures and classes on the importance of growing organically to preserve our world and to be more healthy.
Largest herb plant grower on the East Coast with greenhouses and gift shop surrounded by theme gardens providing an experience for both the casual gardener and serious botanist. Offer annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, statuary, tropical plants, fish, pottery, fall pumpkin picking and hay rides, Christmas trees, decorations and pond supplies, and ornaments. Demonstrations, lectures and workshops
Many non-organic growers use chemicals to fertilize and treat plant diseases and pests. These chemicals leave residue on plants inside and out. Instead of spraying for bugs, we release “beneficial” insects to deal with the “bad bugs.” Each of our plants is grown in an organic certified soil blend. This custom blend has taken us four years to perfect, ensuring the highest amount of essential oil and taste in each herb and green. Hydroponically grown herbs can not compare in flavor or nutrition to their soil grown counterparts. Organic growing is sometimes more difficult, but the rewards surely outweigh the extra effort.
Gilbertie’s is a 4th generation family owned store that has been in Westport for 90 years! Providing certified organic products all over the north east. They serve the community through generous donations to local gardens, charities and schools and many free lectures and classes on the importance of growing organically to preserve our world and to be more healthy.
Largest herb plant grower on the East Coast with greenhouses and gift shop surrounded by theme gardens providing an experience for both the casual gardener and serious botanist. Offer annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, statuary, tropical plants, fish, pottery, fall pumpkin picking and hay rides, Christmas trees, decorations and pond supplies, and ornaments. Demonstrations, lectures and workshops
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Location
Gilbertie's Organic Garden Center
7 Sylvan Lane
Westport, Connecticut 06880
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