We Asked Pest Pros If Marigolds Keep Mosquitoes Away, and We Wish We Knew This Sooner

Many homeowners and gardeners grow marigolds to deter mosquitoes and other pests. But do marigolds repel mosquitoes effectively, or are there better ways to keep mosquitoes out of your yard?

In this guide, experts share their advice on using marigolds for mosquito control, and provide all-natural tips for deterring mosquitoes without harmful toxins.

Will Marigolds Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Although marigolds are often recommended for mosquito control, they’re actually not a reliable way to keep mosquitoes at bay.

“There is no plant species that has been shown to repel mosquitoes in terms of just having the plant in your landscape—and that includes marigolds,” says entomologist Madeline Potter. “Some plants do contain chemical properties which can repel or deter pest insects, but these chemicals usually need to be physically extracted from the plant in order to significantly impact pests.”

This means that only concentrated scents like essential oils or candles will have a real repelling effect on mosquitoes. Stephen Abshier, from the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, agrees.

“Strong scents from plants, including marigolds, may confuse the mosquito’s sensory system and make it more difficult for them to locate people. But on their own, marigolds are unlikely to provide sufficient protection against mosquito bites,” he says.

Unfortunately, that means that you may still struggle with mosquito problems even if you have marigolds around. But growing marigolds does provide a few major benefits to gardens that you may want to take advantage of.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Benefits of Planting Marigolds

Marigolds are undoubtedly pretty flowers that can brighten up gardens and planters with their red, orange, and yellow blooms. But aside from their aesthetic appeal, marigolds offer a few other key benefits to gardens.

“They can attract and help to support predatory and parasitic insects, including syrphid flies, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps that contribute to sustainable pest control in landscapes,” says Potter. “There’s also scientific evidence that marigolds impact nematodes, including root-knot nematodes that attack a wide range of vegetable, fruit, and ornamental plants.”

Beyond this, marigolds increase pollinator activity in gardens, and they make fantastic companion plants for a range of common veggies and herbs. If you’re struggling with poor crop yields, try growing marigolds in your garden. Pairing these plants with crops like squash and cucumbers is a surefire way to boost pollination rates and help you grow larger harvests of the crops you love.

7 Other Natural Mosquito Deterrents

Marigolds are just one tool in an organic gardener’s arsenal, but they’re not the only or most effective way to deter mosquitoes. If you want to protect yourself from mosquito bites and keep mosquitoes out of your garden, here are some of the best ways to naturally repel these blood sucking pests.

• Wear natural insect repellants. “Data shows that the best way to prevent mosquito bites is by using traditional insect repellants, including ones with natural active ingredients, like oil of lemon eucalyptus, and applying insect repellants after putting on sunscreen,” Abshier says.
• Remove standing water. Mosquitoes thrive and lay eggs in standing water, so be sure to clear out any stagnant water around your home.
• Use mosquito dunks. If you’re dealing with a large pool of water you can’t move or drain, consider adding mosquito dunks. Approved for organic gardens, dunks contain a strain of BT thuricide, which is type of bacteria that targets mosquito larvae but is safe for other wildlife.
• Attract beneficial insects. Marigolds attract some beneficial insects that may feed on mosquitoes and other pests. But you can encourage more beneficial bugs to visit your garden by growing plants like yarrow, coneflower, Queen Anne’s lace, alliums, and sweet alyssum.
• Install bat boxes. A single bat can eat about 1000 mosquito-sized insects per hour, putting a serious dent in local mosquito populations. Consider installing a bat house or two and reduce nighttime light pollution by putting outdoor lighting on timers.
• Wear protective clothing. You can also avoid mosquito bites by keeping your arms and legs covered with pants and long-sleeves and limiting the amount of time you spend outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. If you do want to spend time outside in the evening, consider investing in mosquito netting or a netted tent that mosquitoes can’t easily fly into.
• Grow other repellant plants. Although no plants are 100% effective at repelling mosquitoes, some scented plants may be a bit better at deterring mosquitoes than marigolds. These include mint, lavender, lantana, rosemary, garlic, basil, thyme, and fennel.