Life isn’t fair. Whereas some people never seem to get bitten by mosquitoes and often don’t even seem to notice the critters– others spend their evenings frantically swatting them, usually to no avail. Rest assured, it’s not your imagination:Several studies have shown that to mosquitoes, all people really aren’t created equal. Besides factors such as heat and carbon dioxide, mosquitoes use odors to find their victims, and humans appear to exude different amounts of the volatile compounds the insects love. By studying mosquito behavior, entomologists are trying to tease out these favorite smells. Millions of years of evolution have resulted in sophisticated odor-based navigation systems that differ greatly from one mosquito species to the next, depending on where it lives and which host it prefers. Even so, chemical and behavioral studies–often using human volunteers as bait–have helped identify some of the smells that tempt several mosquito species. And recently, molecular researchers have begun identifying the receptors that pick up these odors and translate them into neural signals. We have found some basic household plants that can be planted to keep the mosquitoes away!
Horsemint
Horsemint has a scent similar to citronella. Horsemint grows wild from Mexico, Texas up to Minnesota to Vermont. Native Americans used it as a treatment for colds and flu. It has natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant properties because it’s essential oils are high in thymol.
Ageratum
This charming little bedding plant contains coumarin, and mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellants. Don’t rub ageratum on your skin, though. It has some other less desirable elements that you don’t want to keep on your skin in quantity.
Catnip
One of the most powerful mosquito repellant plants is ordinary catnip. Recent studies have shown that it is ten times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. It is a short lived perennial throughout most of the United States. It is easy to grow from seed, and quickly reseeds. Aside from its intoxicating effects on cats, the leaves make a very soothing tea. With all of these plants, the leaves must be crushed to release the aroma. Otherwise mosquitoes can’t smell them. And, with rosemary and catnip, you can simply crush a few leaves and rub on your skin and clothing to enhance the effect. So, next time you are revising your plantings, consider using some of these attractive plants to do more than just enhance the landscape. You can have
pretty ornamentals that also drive mosquitoes away.
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Whether or not the preceding months have been kind with abundant rainfall, the gardener should now be alert for summer drought conditions which could occur at any time now. A typical pattern of the last several years has been for rainfall to be shut off in early July, leaving normally well-hydrated plants lacking sufficient water.
Proper watering is essential to keep plants healthy. The main rule of thumb is to water deeply and as infrequently as possible, as opposed to frequent, light sprinklings. This will encourage a deeper root system that can take advantage of a larger volume or “bank account” of water stored in the soil. Frequent and light sprinklings tend to keep the majority of plant roots near the surface of the soil. Plants with this type of root system are more susceptible to extreme heat and water shortages and are easily stressed during the summer.
One of the best strategies for getting shrubs and young trees through summertime dry spells is to apply a thick layer of mulch over the root systems of plants. All organic mulches break down over time, so if it has been awhile since you’ve mulched, carefully check all plants in your yard. A three to four inch layer will prevent most evaporation from the soil and significantly lower the soil temperature in the root zone, reducing stress on the root system. Enviro-Care can come out and give a quick estimate for mulching your lawn, call us at 903-534-2800 for more information.
Lawns at this time of year are rapidly growing and need frequent mowing. The best lawns will be those that are mowed regularly. As rainfall becomes less regular, irrigation will need to be more frequent. Lawns need about 1 inch of water per week. Use rain gauge to
actually measure how much rain you’re receiving. This can be supplied in one or more applications per week, depending on the soil type and how hot and dry the weather has been. Sandy soils need more requent watering, as do newly planted lawns. Watch out for lawn pests. Chinch bugs multiply rapidly in warm weather, and their feeding causes St. Augustine grass to look like drought stress. No treatment is needed until symptoms first appear. Look for wilting grass which does not respond to water. The grass will continue to dry, giving it a burned look. Look for tiny, 1/6 to 1/5 inch bugs scurrying quickly up and down grass blades and or scurrying to hide down in the thatch. When watering lawns during hot weather, do it early in the morning.
Otherwise, much of the water will evaporate from the grass before the plants get to use it. To further avoid excess evaporation, use a sprinkler that produces large drops of water instead of a fine mist. Azalea lace bugs are a major pest of azaleas, and increase rapidly in the
summer time. Affected azalea leaves look like they are stippled until they are almost white. A quick look on the underside of leaves will reveal black, varnish-like spots which is a sure sign of azalea lace bugs. If you have any questions or concerns about your summer lawn please feel free to give us a call at 903-534-2800!
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