If you live in a humid area with plenty of fresh water, you’re likely to find yourself dealing with midges in your garden. These pesky little insects are known as biting flies because they love to feed on humans as well as other animals and plants. Unfortunately, when the weather is hot and humid, midges thrive — so if you see these little critters around your property this summer, it probably won’t be their last visit. However, there are many things you can do to reduce their population in your garden and keep them from coming back again. Let’s take a look at what midges are and why they show up in gardens; how to get rid of midges; and some tips on how to prevent them from coming back next year.
How To Get Rid Of Midges In Garden?
Rotate your plants
If you want to avoid midges in your garden, you should make sure to rotate your plants to a different spot each year. This is because midges lay their eggs in the soil, and the larvae feed on plant roots as they mature. If you put your plants in the same spots each year, the midge larvae will simply have a feast on your plants’ roots while they’re still small. If you rotate your plants to other parts of your garden, the midge larvae will have no chance to devour your plants’ roots.
Diversify your garden
Another way to deter midges in your garden is to diversify your garden and plant a wide variety of plants. Midges are attracted to certain types of plants, so if you have a wide selection of flowers and plants, they may not be so interested in yours. If you grow only a few types of plants in your garden, you’ll be making it easy for midges to target and devour them. If you grow a wide variety of plants, though, midges will have a harder time selecting their next meal.
Try insecticidal soaps
If you want to get rid of midges in your garden without using pesticides, you can try insecticidal soaps. These soaps are organic and kill midges without harming your plants. You can purchase insecticidal soaps at most gardening stores and online. Make sure to read the instructions on the label and apply the soap during the evening when midges are not flying around as much as they are during the day.
Use nematodes
Another way to kill midges without using chemicals is to use nematodes. These microscopic worms attack the larval stage of the midge and kill them while they’re still in the ground. Nematodes are biodegradable and safe for your soil and environment. You can buy nematodes at most gardening stores, or you can try growing your own by following this recipe.
Grow marigolds and mint
If you want to get rid of midges in your garden, you can also try growing marigolds and mint. These plants release strong, pungent scents that repel midges. To get the most out of your marigolds and mint, plant them in pots and place them near the areas in your garden that are most prone to midge attacks. Marigolds, in particular, have many medicinal properties in addition to being a great midge repellent. They’re known to repel a wide variety of garden pests, including mosquitoes, and are one of the best flowers to grow in your garden. You can also dry your marigolds and use them as an organic insecticide indoors.
Why Are There So Many Midges In Gardens?
Midge Eggs Are Incredibly Tiny
Midge eggs are just 0.1 mm long, which means that they are incredibly tiny. They are smaller than a grain of sand and you might not even notice them in your garden. This makes it even more difficult to get rid of the midges. You’ll most likely see them in your garden. You’ll probably notice the tiny, black midge larvae. They are about 0.5 mm long and have distinctive orange/yellow heads. They are completely aquatic and feed on algae, bacteria and other tiny organisms in ponds and ditches. Because the eggs are so small, you won’t be able to remove them from your garden. You’ll have to accept that there will be midges in your garden no matter what you do.
Adult Midges Live Only for A Month
Adult midges live only for a month. This means that they will soon die, which is good news because it means that they won’t be around for too long. However, they will mate as soon as they emerge and lay their eggs just a few days after that. The eggs will hatch a few days later and the larvae will feed on microorganisms in the soil. They will then pupate and emerge as adults. This short lifespan means that you will have to deal with a lot of midges in your garden. You might even notice a significant increase in the population at the start of summer because this is the beginning of their life cycle.
Adult Midges Lay Hundreds of Eggs Each
The female midges lay up to several hundred eggs each. The eggs are less than 0.1 mm long, which means that you’ll barely notice them. You’ll probably discover them in your pond or garden pond. They have transparent shells that look like jelly. They are very small and you might not even notice them. The best thing to do would be to skim them off the surface and get rid of them. If you don’t, the eggs will hatch after a couple of weeks and the larvae will feed on the water’s bacteria and algae. Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to prevent the midge eggs from being laid in your garden pond. You can try covering your pond with a net designed to keep out insects. You can also add plants to your pond that can help remove some of the algae. You should also keep the water in your garden pond clean as this will also help prevent algae from forming.
There Are So Many Midges in Your Garden Because
The midges in your garden will eat the algae and bacteria that would otherwise grow out of control. They will also eat other tiny organisms in the water, including mosquito larvae. The adult midges will drink nectar and honeydew from flowers. They are also pollinators for many plants. Your garden will have plenty of midges flying around it because they will be coming from ponds in the area. The midges in your garden will lay their eggs in the water and on plants. They will also eat pests and help to break down the organic matter in your soil.
How To Get Rid Of Midges Naturally?
- If you’re looking for a natural way to get rid of midges, there are a few options. You can try introducing certain plants that midges don’t like, like lemongrass and lavender.
- You can also find plants that repel midges, such as basil, sage, rosemary, and thyme. And if you don’t want to introduce all these new plants to your garden, you can also try making your current plants less appealing to midges.
- You can do this by mulching your garden and keeping the ground covered, which will help to reduce the amount of moisture in your garden.
- You can also try adding more predator insects to your garden.
- This can help keep the midge population in check and could save your garden from being overrun with these pests.
Tips For Keeping Midges Out Of Your Garden
- If you want to avoid midges in your garden, there are a few things you can do to prevent them from showing up. Start by making sure your garden has plenty of dense shade.
- This can be achieved by adding shrubs and trees, or even tall perennials. You can also help reduce the amount of standing water in your garden by mulching and watering at the base of your plants.
- This will also help to keep your garden looking neat and tidy. You can also try pruning your plants.
- This can make your garden look neater and will allow more sunlight to shine through. And if you’re dealing with lots of midges, you may also want to add dust or pesticide to your garden to help reduce their numbers.
Conclusion
Finally, make sure you’re not over-fertilizing your garden, as this can increase the number of midges in your garden. You’ll want to focus on growing plants that repel midges — like lemongrass and lavender — and that are less likely to be eaten by midges. If you live in a humid area with plenty of fresh water, you’re likely to find yourself dealing with midges in your garden. These pesky little insects are known as biting flies because they love to feed on humans as well as other animals and plants.
