Pest identification
What's eating my mexican tarragon?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Rasp holes through leaves and sever seedling stems, most damaging on young transplants and new spring growth.
Control: Use ferrous phosphate pellets, copper tape, or beer traps around young plants. Grow transplants to a sturdy size before planting out.
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine pale stippling on upper leaf surfaces and webbing on undersides during hot, dry spells; leaves may bronze and drop.
Control: Improve air circulation and water plants during dry weather. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to undersides of leaves.
Keep mexican tarragon pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Mexican Tarragon pests — FAQ
What is eating my mexican tarragon?
Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) repels many common garden pests through its marigold-family chemistry and actively deters deer and rabbits. Slugs and snails are the main genuine threat, attacking young plants. Spider mites can develop in hot, dry summers. Its nematode-suppressing root secretions make it a net positive for the garden.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on mexican tarragon?
Rasp holes through leaves and sever seedling stems, most damaging on young transplants and new spring growth. Use ferrous phosphate pellets, copper tape, or beer traps around young plants. Grow transplants to a sturdy size before planting out.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on mexican tarragon?
Fine pale stippling on upper leaf surfaces and webbing on undersides during hot, dry spells; leaves may bronze and drop. Improve air circulation and water plants during dry weather. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to undersides of leaves.