Mosquito Season Garden Helpers

Mosquitoes are a real problem that children already know about, which makes this the most motivated planting session of the year.

Lemongrass, citronella, basil and marigold go into pots near where the children play. They crush a leaf of each first so they know what they are planting and why.

The honest science, which the sheet includes for the adult, is that crushed leaves repel effectively and undisturbed plants repel much less. Children should be told the crushing matters, because it does, and because it gives them a job.

The page has the four plants, the planting method, the placement, and the seasonal timing. Plant six weeks before the rains. We have planted during the rains twice and the plants were too small to be any use in the year they were needed.