Pest identification
What's eating my french marigold 'durango'?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and bronzing on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing on undersides in hot, dry conditions.
Control: Spray foliage — especially undersides — with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days. Mist plants during dry spells to raise humidity.
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mould and causes leaf curl.
Control: Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray. Ladybirds, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps provide useful natural control.
Japanese beetle
Signs: Petals and leaves skeletonised — only the veins left behind; adults visible in daytime, iridescent green-bronze.
Control: Hand-pick into soapy water in the morning when beetles are sluggish. Apply neem oil as a feeding deterrent. Avoid pheromone traps near the plant.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes in lower leaves and young stems overnight; slime trails on soil.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants. Remove debris where slugs hide; use copper tape around containers.
Keep french marigold 'durango' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
French Marigold 'Durango' pests — FAQ
What is eating my french marigold 'durango'?
French Marigold 'Durango' is troubled most by spider mites in hot dry summers, plus aphids and the occasional slug at ground level. Japanese beetles chew petals in mid-season. The strongly scented foliage actually repels many insects, making 'Durango' one of the lower-maintenance annuals in the border.
How do I get rid of spider mites on french marigold 'durango'?
Pale stippling and bronzing on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing on undersides in hot, dry conditions. Spray foliage — especially undersides — with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days. Mist plants during dry spells to raise humidity.
How do I get rid of aphids on french marigold 'durango'?
Dense colonies on shoot tips; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mould and causes leaf curl. Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray. Ladybirds, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps provide useful natural control.
How do I get rid of japanese beetle on french marigold 'durango'?
Petals and leaves skeletonised — only the veins left behind; adults visible in daytime, iridescent green-bronze. Hand-pick into soapy water in the morning when beetles are sluggish. Apply neem oil as a feeding deterrent. Avoid pheromone traps near the plant.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on french marigold 'durango'?
Irregular holes in lower leaves and young stems overnight; slime trails on soil. Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants. Remove debris where slugs hide; use copper tape around containers.