Keep mosquitoes away with natural insect repellents.
Summer evenings in your garden are a blend of bright flowers, fresh fragrances, relaxed outdoors entertaining --- and mosquitoes. Marigolds, with their cheerful blooms of yellow and orange, are a natural mosquito repellent. With just a little care, these flowers thrive anywhere and repel insect invaders. Plant them with other mosquito-repellent plants for increased protection from painful mosquito bites. Does this Spark an idea?
About Marigolds
Marigolds are annual plants which thrive in warm sites with full sun and well-drained soil. African marigolds, Tagetes erecta, grow up to 3 feet high, with brightly colored, rounded blooms in yellow, orange and white. French marigolds are smaller, grow to 18 inches tall, and come in yellow, orange and rust with many different patterns and combinations. Deadheading marigolds, by removing the dead blooms, encourages them to flower continuously throughout the growing season.
Mosquito Control
Marigolds have traditionally been used as a natural pest repellent. Many varieties of marigolds have unpleasantly scented leaves that mosquitoes and other aphids do not like. Some varieties, however, such as the Tagetes gem series, have a sweet, citrus-scented fragrance that does not repel mosquitoes. Marigolds are also a pest deterrent for small pets and animals. As a natural pesticide, marigolds act against nematodes, sightless eel-shaped organisms that harm plants by laying their eggs in the roots. Marigolds, especially African marigolds, attract bees and butterflies to the garden.
Growing Marigolds
Marigolds thrive wherever there is full sun. Plant marigolds in pots and place them near your outdoors entertaining areas. French marigolds work well as a border plant for your flower beds. Marigolds grow particularly well with chrysanthemums, dahlias and calendula, another mosquito-repellent plant. Planting marigolds near tomatoes and roses keeps away mosquitoes as well as other harmful insects to which they are susceptible. Lamb's quarters grown near marigolds gives them additional vigor and increases their hardiness.
Other Mosquito-Repellent Plants
Citronella is one of the most common mosquito-repellent plants. However, it prefers warm, tropical growing conditions. Grow the plant itself as an insect deterrent or burn citronella oil or a citronella candle to keep the mosquitoes away. Scientists have developed a variety of geranium that incorporates the properties of citronella into a much hardier plant for cooler climates. Horsemint has a similar scent to citronella and prefers sandy soils. Rosemary, as well as being a culinary herb, has been used for centuries to repel mosquitoes. It is an annual plant in most geographic regions and grows well in herb gardens or containers. Ageratum is a bedding plant whose blue and white flowers suit most garden color schemes. It contains coumarin, which has a smell that mosquitoes dislike and is used in some commercial insect repellents. Catnip keeps your cat happy while keeping you clear of mosquitoes.
Tags: mosquitoes Marigolds, yellow orange, African marigolds, been used, blooms yellow