Plant Americana Agave for Additional Mosquito Control

For those who love gardening or spending time outdoors, you always hear about beneficial plants to grow. It may be a surprise that several plants act as natural pesticides against pests like mosquitoes. If you are interested in planting working vegetation to protect your family, you could plant Americana agave for mosquito control. But is it effective?

The Life and Care of Americana Agave

According to Wikipedia, the Americana agave is a very hardy plant that is a great ornamental piece to your garden. This succulent is at home in dry desert-styled cactus gardens, though it is adaptive to other environments. It requires little watering and can handle a variety of light levels, from full, direct lighting to heavy shade. Americana agave needs to be planted in sandy, highly porous soil and is only watered when the soil has completely dried. If used as a house plant, you will need to replant it every spring to ensure a long life of this plant.

Though known as a century plant, Americana agave’s average lifespan is 10 to 30 years. When it nears the end of its life, this plant will produce a large stalk that produces flowers. This stalk will potentially grow 25 to 30 feet in height. After the agave flowers, it dies. Small shoots will grow from the base, growing a new plant in the place of the first.

Plant Americana Agave for Mosquito Control

Is Americana Agave Effective Mosquito Control?

Though promising on its own, Americana agave is not optimal for mosquito control. The leaf extract of the succulent is what produces the natural pesticide, and you need to place the extract into a body of water for it to be effective. If you follow a few simple steps, you’ll have a potent natural pesticide that you can use in any common still water source around your property to act as mosquito control. When scouting your property for placements of your agave extract, follow The Mosquito Squad’s 7 Ts of Mosquito Control. This will help reduce the hiding places of mosquitoes and reduce your hard work in the long run.

How to Use Americana Agave for Mosquito Control

To properly use Americana agave as mosquito control, it is recommended that you get small reusable drawstring bags, such as cotton muslin. Carefully taking a knife, cut a 1-to-2-inch piece of leaf off your plant and place it inside the bag. Inside the bag, you’ll want to crush the leaf, allowing the extract to be released. Once this happens, place the resealable container into the water source. Larger bodies of water will require more bags but placing them where you see active larva will decrease the population within 10 to 48 hours, depending on the breed of mosquito. Unfortunately, using this method is only viable for 3 to 4 days, and the leaves will need to be replaced twice a week. This method, unfortunately, has no effect on adult mosquitoes.

A More Effective Method of Mosquito Control: Mosquito Squad of El Paso

If you want an effective mosquito control method that you don’t have to set a reminder every few days, then you should have Mosquito Squad of El Paso treat your yard. With our Traditional Mosquito Barrier Control, your property will be protected for up to 21 days and starts acting immediately. The barrier control is 85-90% effective in reducing the mosquito population within the treated area. You’ll be free to enjoy your outdoor spaces without the bite of a mosquito!

Even having a yard full of mosquito-reducing plants isn’t the best answer to mosquito control. It helps, yet it is always best to hire a professional company such as Mosquito Squad for your El Paso mosquito control needs. Following the 7 T’s of mosquito control is another way to keep the mosquitoes from having the perfect breeding ground. Mosquito Squad of El Paso looks forward to hearing from you. Contact us online or call us today at (915) 800-0343 for a free quote.