This is one of the most popular massed-colour plants, producing dazzling sheets of bright gold, single flowers over a long season. Additionally, nematodes are one of the most serious of all soil pests, often destroying whole crops. Based on Dutch research, this amazing plant also has the most potent nematicidal effect of all marigolds. Nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans, P. neglectus, P. crenatus) have serious negative effect on crops of carrots, lettuce, endive, leek and strawberries. Also flower bulbs such as liliums, daffodils, gladioli, hyacinths, irises and tulips can suffer problems of root nematodes. Companion planting tagetes 'Ground Control', which grows particularly well on sandy soil where nematodes are most prevalent, will give you the double advantage of both a beautiful garden and pest-free soil. ... Learn More

Multiple small flowers of mid lemony-yellow adorn strong upright stalks, and emerge from amongst large deeply-incised leaves. This is an intriguing plant, some would say not pretty at all, whilst others disagree. But it has a deserved reputation as a natural weedkiller, its deep tap roots containing chemicals credited with repelling perennial weeds such as Ground Elder and Couch Grass. ... Learn More

Many-petalled flowers with various shades of yellow, orange, bronze and red appear in every imaginable combination. The bright green foliage is deeply incised and quite beautiful in its own right, and can make a real feature in your garden if densely planted. Flowering all summer, if you take the faded flowers off regularly it enjoys full sun and carries a very strong musky scent that is attractive to humans but not to insects! Plant it in window boxes to keep the flies away in the summer months, or as a companion plant to protect your veg. ... Learn More