Hi gang. It seems like the problem is mealybug....at least it's a big part of the problem. I've been picking them off my plants for a month now. It's amazing how quickly they come back. If I had been more knowledgeable about what I was facing a little earlier, I could have kept the problem to a minimum. But you guys know what happens when you don't act quickly....the problem compounds itself. That's ok....I'm still a relative newcomer to the garden world so I won't beat myself up too badly. Here's an interesting fix I've researched: You can buy these mail order "mealybug destroyer" ladybugs that apparently feast on the little buggers. I'm tempted, but before I take the plunge I want to try one more organic spray called Jungle Rain....it promises to do the job and it's much cheaper. (Probably a rip-off...we'll see.) Anyway, the real bummer is that my citrus plants....though quite healthy and growing, have stopped blooming. The simple fact is they're not getting enough direct sunlight, but I live in a condo and can't change the direction my balcony faces. (west) So....can I get a great big "awwwww" out of you? :)

I agree with Flora--planting like this may do a little bit, but won't completely solve the problem. As she stated, chives are super easy to grow, but they do grow in clumps. It would take a lot to make an actual 'fence'. Garlic chives are also nice, with pretty flowers, though they'll take longer to mature. (they're pretty puny the first year) Both chives can spread if you don't cut the flowers to prevent seeding. Basil you might want to do more research on--I seem to remember that it might be a help to roses in other ways, but as I don't grow roses, didn't pay much attention to that when I read it. Catnip grows easily, but you will attract every cat in the neighborhood to your garden, and it can spread. Catmint doesn't attract the cats as much, but does become a nuisance as far as spreading. Garlic and onions are relatively easy, but may not have much effect, especially in raised beds. I'm a city girl, so don't have much problem with bunnies and deer (do have to worry about rats eating my seedlings). I do remember something I read saying she plants a ring of parsley around some beds--the bunnies just stay on the edges and eat that and leave the inner stuff alone. Aphids will be a problem, and if you want to stick organic, the best way to combat them is your garden hose. A good spray will knock most of them off, and if you keep it up, they're weak little critters and many will die before climbing back up. A spray bottle of a dishsoap solution will help kill eggs organically--make sure you're spraying the bottoms of leaves. Neem may be an option too. Maybe check out the rose forum for other suggestions? The herbs that have been mentioned here are all easy to grow. Most like average soil, well draining (which your raised beds would be). Very little fertilizer is needed for in-ground herbs, if any as long as the soil was amended with compost, etc. They all like to be kept more moist (moist but not sitting in water) unlike some of the Mediterranean arid types--if you look at thyme, oregano, rosemary--you'll have to do more research to learn their water needs. Basil is annual, easy to grow from seed or buy transplants, but you'll plant it each year. Chives are perennial and would come back after winter each year.

Ants will often come and go according to the weather. They'll often come into the house if it rains, or in a drought, for instance. If they're after termites, they'll invade, too. Once the population of termites has depleted enough not to be able to support the population of ants, they'll go hunting elsewhere. Sage, pennyroyal, peppermint, rue, mint, bay, lavender, marigolds, pyrethrum, wormwood, yarrow or tansy will all deter ants. If they got to your coffee grounds, they wouldn't like that, either. And they don't like vinegar, or chilli, or cucumber. Boiling water isn't so good for them, either!

Lauri, have the ants literally taken up residence in the container or are they simply visiting? Frankly, either would not make me happy on my balcony! I would first try a Terro boric acid ant bait....placed just on the outside of one of the pots. This is a liquid bait that comes in a little clear plastic tray. Once the ants discover the bait, they will swarm the tray by droves. You will be tempted to take drastic action but that is exactly what you want to happen. In a few hours, you will see no more ants. If they are fire ants and are attempting to colonize within the containers, you'll need to use a granular bait containing Spinosad; It's safe for use on edibles.