Protective Decoy Flora: Delight in Watching Pests Ravage This Specific Plant to Safeguard Other Blooms and Bushes
Gardening with a Purpose: Marigolds as Pest Control Plants
Embrace the vibrant charms of marigolds, found in numerous gardens, and enjoy the fantastic perk they offer - pest control! Not only do they enchant with their dazzling orange hues, they also possess remarkable pest-repelling abilities, making them an exceptional trap plant. If you've noticed holes in your marigolds and wondered 'what's nibbling my marigolds?', take comfort in the fact that these pest control plants are actively at work.
With their adaptability, marigolds flourish in various settings, from pots and borders to balconies and window boxes. This adaptability boosts marigolds' effectiveness in shielding tender plants and crops from pest attacks. Their potent aroma discourages certain pests from specific areas, escorting them away from other plants, safeguarding them from damage. In essence, marigolds find their way onto the list of trap plants for pest control, acting as decoys to entice certain pests.
Intrigue arises when pests gravitate towards marigolds, the very plants designed to protect others. As these pests dine on marigolds, your garden's other plants remain untouched and thrive. Let's delve deeper into the pests attracted to marigolds and employ this knowledge to your advantage.
Which Pests Chomp on Marigolds?
Curious about whether marigolds will prove a desirable trap plant for your plot? Rest assured that an assortment of pests are drawn to marigolds, which act as a lure to ensure these unwanted visitors steer clear of your more cherished plants.
"Marigolds have the ability to repel many pests, but their second advantage is that they actually attract some unwanted pests," divulges Drew Swainston, Homes & Gardens' Gardens Content Editor. "By using them as a trap plant, these annoying pests are steered towards the marigolds, keeping them off your more prized plants."
Among the pests attracted to marigolds, slugs and snails hold a special place in the roster. Additionally, sap-sucking pests like aphids and spider mites, insects such as beetles and weevils, and even larger pests like rabbits, deer, and squirrels are captivated by marigolds.
Marigolds entice these pests with their bright yellow and orange colors and enchanting fragrance. French marigolds, in particular, seem to have a magnetic allure for aphids, who relish the sticky sap they produce.
Shop for French Marigold seeds at Walmart.
Drew, a former journalist turned professional gardener, explains, "Slugs, snails, and certain insects feed on marigolds, providing a sacrificial plant that diverts these voracious munchers away from other crops."
Employing Marigolds as Trap Plants
Now that you're acquainted with the pests that feast on marigolds, you might be eager to establish them as trap plants, whether in pots or gardens. To benefit from their protective qualities, pay attention to their proper placement:
"Position the trap crop near your more desirable plants, but at least six feet apart to prevent the pests you're trying to keep away from effortlessly jumping onto the plants you're aiming to shield," Drew advises.
For instance, you may opt to place marigolds in a vegetable garden away from salad crops, encouraging slugs and snails to venture in the opposite direction. Or, intersperse them among vegetables to block pests from hopping between different crops.
Marigolds in container gardens offer the freedom to relocate these pest-repelling plants as needed. Choose a pot with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging and root rot and consider this beautiful terracotta pot from Amazon.
When your marigold has lured pests and appears infested, simply discard it, ridding the susceptible area of your garden of pests.
Question and Answer
Can all Marigolds Serve as Trap Plants?
Although the majority of marigold varieties can aid in pest control, certain types prove more effective as trap plants than others. French marigolds and Signet marigolds (seeds from Walmart), for instance, present an irresistible combination of bright color, fragrance, and sticky sap that attract insects, slugs, and snails away from more precious plants in your garden.
Not only do marigolds ward off destructive pests and steer them away from other plants, their natural pest control abilities extend further. They attract numerous beneficial insects such as ladybugs and hoverflies, which in turn prey upon more harmful insects, further protecting the plants you wish to preserve.
It's essential to understand When to Plant Marigolds outdoors to achieve successful growth.
Resources
- French Marigolds: A Pest-Repellent Bloom
- Terracotta Pot
- Fertilizer for Marigolds
By integrating marigolds into home-and-garden settings and employing them as trap plants, you can create a pest-resistant oasis. Their alluring colors and fragrance attract numerous unwanted pests such as slugs, snails, aphids, spider mites, beetles, weevils, rabbits, deer, and squirrels, effectively diverseting them away from your more cherished plants, making them part of your lifestyle.
To make the most of marigolds' pest-repelling abilities, place them strategically among your crops for optimal protection. This can be done in outdoor gardens by positioning them near your desirable plants but at least six feet apart, or in container gardens by choosing a pot with drainage for proper care and placement as needed.
