Draw ladybirds to your garden using one ingredient this September

Ladybirds are incredibly useful when it comes to controlling aphids, which can suck the sap from plants – and there’s one common kitchen item that may help attract them to your garden this September

Now is an ideal time to draw ladybirds into your garden – and there’s one particular food item that will have them descending on your outdoor space in September.

Depending on conditions, October is typically when these insects begin entering their dormant winter phase. At this point they will be on the hunt for warmth and shelter, frequently in considerable numbers, where they are likely to remain until March or April when temperatures improve once more.

Ladybirds are extraordinarily valuable when it comes to keeping aphids under control, as these pests can drain the sap from plants. A single adult ladybird can consume up to 50 aphids each day, helping to protect vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants from damage.

The insects can also assist in managing other garden nuisances such as mites and small caterpillars.

Horticulturalist Michael Perry, who has featured on ITV’s This Morning and runs the website Mr Plant Geek, says there is one food in particular that could bring ladybirds flocking to your garden. And the chances are most people already have it sitting in their kitchen cupboard, reports the Express.

Writing on his website, he said: “Aphid problem? No worries! Attract predatory ladybirds to your garden by placing raisins in ladybird feeders.”

The method is straightforward. Soak one or two raisins in water for up to five minutes.

Then slice them in half to reveal the moist interior before placing them inside a small wooden box or ladybird hotel. Once the raisins have been consumed, simply repeat the process.

There is one potential downside, however. Raisins are known to attract ladybirds owing to their sweet scent, but unfortunately, they draw ants in as well.

Meanwhile, foxes will visit gardens every evening if you leave one common bedroom item outside.

Foxes are a quintessentially British creature often associated with autumn because of their vivid orange coat, yet they can also prove genuinely beneficial to have in your garden at this time of year. As temperatures drop in September, rats and mice commonly begin seeking shelter in gardens, making it vital to deter them promptly before they develop into a full-blown infestation.

Nobody wants to spot rats darting around their outdoor space and risk them finding their way indoors, but foxes are omnivores well known for preying on rodents, which can go a long way towards keeping them at bay.

Dora Nightingale, founder of the charity Fox Guardians, has revealed that a straightforward way to entice foxes is simply to make them feel at ease by leaving out an everyday household item.

In an online video, Dora said: “This is the foxes’ favourite area. It’s nothing special, really, by our standards, as it’s just a few cold cushions dotted around. What foxes like about this is that it’s comfortable because they are off the ground, and the foxes absolutely love it.”