Natural control of pests and disease

The best thing I've done for pest control is planting flowers which attract predatory insects all over the garden. Dill, coriander, fennel, alyssum, gem marigolds, yarrow, cosmos, poached egg plants, phacelia... Now every year we get ladybirds, hoverflies and parasitic wasps visiting the greenhouse to control aphids. Gem marigolds and alyssum are my favourites because they are easy to grow and flower all summer.

Me too. I find umbellifers really attract the parasitic wasps, things like fennel, dill, and the carrot family. I also feed the birds. Never have to clean under the feeders, the pigeons scoff every dropped seed. Just last week, the wren was fosssicking among the primulas and pulled out a big green caterpillar. I had no idea there would be caterpillars about at this time of year.