2 days Ago By Ella Kipling
With summer now approaching and the weather outside warming up, we will start to see more mosquitoes in our gardens. The insects prefer warm, damp conditions, which means they will be around from April through to October in the UK most years. The UK has more than 30 native species of mosquitoes, and while some are more of a nuisance, others can bite.
However, when it comes to ridding the pests from your garden , it turns out there is a natural repellent you can plant yourself: marigolds . The flowers act as magnets for pollinators, such as ladybugs. They also serve as a deterrent against unwanted pests like mosquitoes, cabbage worms, and aphids, according to gardening expert Agrotonomy.
But how does this work? Marigolds contain oils that give them their scent and ability to repel mosquitoes. One of the oils, pyrethrum, is also found in daisies and is a commonly used pesticide, according to pest repellent brand Mosquito Magician. In the 1990s, chemists found that marigolds give off volatile insecticides that are toxic to mosquitoes that carry yellow fever and malaria.
A team from the University of Alabama studied three marigold species and boiled extracts from their roots, leaves, and flowers before separating the chemicals. The scientists found that all three species had these insecticidal properties, with the flowers being the most potent element. Pyrethrins, the natural insecticides found in marigolds, are safe and insects do not develop resistance to them, according to New Scientists.
They also have a small impact on the environment as the ingredients break down into harmless chemicals. Marigolds are easy to grow and hardy annuals that flower from summer through to early autumn. The Royal Horticultural Society explains that the flowers have edible petals and are also used in skincare products.
The plants, known as calendulas, produce single or double flowers on low, bushy plants, and they have hairy, aromatic foliage. They come in a range of colours, including cream, pastel orange, and yellow, though they are usually bright orange. Marigolds are a popular choice as they are unfussy and thrive in ordinary garden soil, and while they flower best in full sun, they also tolerate some light shade.
However, they won’t do well in wet, overly fertile soil or deep shade. In the UK, mosquitoes tend to be active for about six months of the year. Depending on the weather conditions, they will often start to breed in April, and females can lay up to 200 eggs at a time.
They can be attracted to high-contrast colours, but the strongest attraction for the insects is odour..
