Let it grow: the benefits of wormwood in the garden and the benefits to human health

Characterized by silvery leaves, bitterness, and a distinctive aroma, wormwood is often found on roadsides, meadows, and even in home gardens. Although it is usually considered a weed and quickly eradicated from gardens and flower beds, many people are unaware of the rich history of this plant as one of the oldest medicinal herbs, as well as its many beneficial properties.

SSPDaily has told you how wormwood benefits the garden and why you might want to think twice before uprooting it.

Wormwood and its extraordinary value

In the field of folk medicine, wormwood occupies an important place, which makes it a popular choice for growing as a medicinal crop. In addition, wormwood is recognized as a powerful insecticide and repellent that effectively fights flying and crawling insects.

Wormwood is a fearful plant for such common pests as aphids, sawflies, whiteflies, moths and carrot flies. It also serves as a preventive measure against some plant diseases.

Using wormwood in the garden and vegetable garden

Some gardeners strategically place sprigs of wormwood between rows of carrots or on top of cabbage, while others hang it around trees and bushes. Is it advisable to plant wormwood in the garden? The answer is a resounding yes. Not only does wormwood repel insects, but its infusion also has known repellent properties.

To prepare an infusion of wormwood, take a large bunch (about 300 g) of fresh herb and infuse it in 5 liters of boiling water for an hour. Use this liquid to spray plants affected by pests, and you will see a significant reduction in their number.

The best place to plant wormwood in the garden is under a tree or bush, especially at the base, where it grows in close proximity to the trunk. This placement provides protection from crawling and flying insects in several ways:

- Ants stay away from wormwood, thereby scaring away aphids.

- Caterpillars and moths are disgusted by wormwood.

- The scent of this plant repels mice, so they stay away from it.

For a visually pleasing combination, try planting wormwood next to lavender, bells, or santolina. In addition, when placed next to rose bushes, it acts as a natural aphid repellent.