I bought garlic chives to ward off spider mites which were a problem in my hot dry yard. I also sprayed Avid for about 3 years quite a while back--years ago. Since I have grown the garlic chives, I have had no spider mites. It's as simple as that.
Well, not really THAT simple. They grow into big clumps that bloom beautifully but self-sow, unfortunately. So now I am vigilant and cut off the flower heads before they go to seed. I always miss some.
I remember reading that garlic chives didn't work--but it seems they did for me. (I still get the mites on certain houseplants, which I have to throw away.)

Interesting! Hot and dry- so probably not a lot of blackspot to test the sulphur theory with!

Thank you!

The gophers only seem to tunnel in the zones that my society garlics are not in, they seem to have abandoned one veggie garden they used to love.

We just pulled trash cans worth of calendula, the aphids love them so once they are full, in the trash they go along with the aphids.

I have a no-spray garden with all manner of supportive companion plants, plus cats to keep down moles, voles and bunnies. I sent out hand-written invitations to praying mantis, ladybugs and garter snakes. I still get blackspot, aphids, grasshoppers, sawflies, ticks and deer, but perhaps it would be worse if I didn't have the support system. I don't expect perfection. We live in reasonable harmony. Everybody gets a nibble and everyone gets nibbled on.

I once read a vegetable gardening article and the main advice was to "plant enough for you and the bugs." Obviously, this person didn't live in Florida. It's impossible to plant enough for you and the bugs here, especially a summer vegetable garden. I gave that up long ago.

Catsrose's response was one of the best I have ever read on this site when it comes to the philosophy of roses and gardening in general. Bravo.

The problem is that pests cannot read so they do not know which veggies are for them and which are for you. They just ruin them all.

catsrose, what do you plant as companion? I'm only focusing on deer as we have loads. So far, I'm planting close to the house and plan to put in salvia, catmint, Black eyed susans, lavender,allium and fox glove. Any other good rose bed additions?

Kippy: good to know! We do have evidence of moles, but luckily no holes/tunnels big enough for the groundhogs in the yard (the terrier likes to hunt them both which also helps!). The verdict so far has been dangerous bunnies, so I am very interested in the lavender idea. Plus I love the way it looks and smells!

Catsrose: GREAT post! I don't mind sharing, but only if the nibblers promise to leave enough for me too! I do purposely plant the berries outside the fence line and only count on a few good gallons for myself- the deer, birds, and black bears are welcome to the rest. I second madteaparty's request: What are you favorite companions?

floridarose and socks: Looks like we need Zoolander's Center for Ants that Don't Read Good!

morden: I concur!

madteaparty: where are you located? I've never tried any of those as rose companions, but in zone 7 Virginia I've had great luck with salvias coming back every year without being invasive monsters. Catmint, however, was a major, yearly, can't beat it with a stick sprawler. Loved the way it looked and smelled, but it will get out of control easily if you let it!

Other deer resistant plants not already mentioned include lamb's ear, columbines, bearded iris and any artemesia. Daffodils too.

Plants that my deer herd especially like are hostas, daylilies and tomatoes.

Deer also like Euonymus, but hate boxwood--it smells like cat urine to them, I suppose. Speaking of cat pee, the best stuff I've used for both deer and bunnies are cat pee balls from the clumping litter. Just place a couple in an old bowl. They can be positioned on the ground near a short plant, or in the case of a rose, propped in the roses' canes. I use crummy old plastic bowls which weigh very little. Another remedy I've found very good at repelling bunnies (and possibly deer) is garlic powder sprinkled liberally on the target plant. Smells a bit like an Italian restaurant when you walk by. I don't find companion plants repel much. Diane

I plant lots of herbs, daffodils, agastache, ornamental grasses (praying mantis like to build their nests on the grass stems), iris, small varieties of willow, small evergreens, snapdragons. I also plant hostas and tulips near the tiny pond I keep at the bottom of the garden for wildlife. It, plus the water, draws deer and bunnies away from more vulnerable plants. I also plant my rugosas, mosses, and gallicas near the wildlife "trails" because they don't eat those roses. Like I said, it's not fool proof, but it gives us all a fighting chance.

Thank cecily! I didn't think of daffs- those do really well in my yard. And I have been hoping to add iris, too, so that's great. Not just in the rose beds, but you know how it is in VA- deer resistance is a concern all over the garden.

Strangely, my hostas don't get touched. They are planted right up against the house and inside the fence line. I know they would be goners if planted further out.

nana: Just thinking about cat pee balls is making me giggle! They sell very expensive powdered bobcat/mountain lion pee just for this very reason; why pay when you can get it straight from the source for free!

Thanks, catsrose! That's a great list to keep in mind!

I am planning to put in clary sage to repel deer. It's really stinky. My DH hates it but I like the smell.