Sometimes the biggest problems can come in the smallest packages. Mites are not a common pest that people think of when they think of common pests in their lawn or garden, but they can be a problem for homeowners with lawns and gardens. These tiny creatures can cause damage to plants, making them look sickly and yellow.
If you’re noticing Wilted plants, yellowing leaves, or brown spots on your lawn, you may have a mite infestation. While some mites are beneficial, others can be a nuisance, while still others can be dangerous. For this reason, we believe the best course of action is to get rid of them as soon as possible.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to get rid of lawn mites in your yard and garden. While organic gardening methods can help control mites, there are also chemical solutions available if needed. We’ll also provide some tips on how to prevent these pests from causing damage in the first place. So, if you’re dealing with a pesky mite infestation, read on!
What Are Lawn Mites?
A lawn mite is a type of arachnid that feeds on the leaves and stems of plants. There are many different types of lawn mites, but all share some common characteristics- they are small, round, and have eight legs.
The most common species of mites found on lawns are the long protonymph and the brownish protonymph, which have been known to infest plants as diverse as dandelion, clover, shepherd’s purse, strawberry, daffodil, Salvia, Alyssum and primrose.
Mites are little lawn pests that can only be detected using a binocular lens. When they are disturbed, they hide on the lawn, making them even more difficult to locate.
Reasons Lawn Mites Could Be In Your Garden
There are several reasons why you might find lawn mites in your garden. One reason is that the weather has been warm and humid, which creates a hospitable environment for them. Another possibility is that you have recently moved into a home with an existing lawn mite infestation. If you live near fields or other areas where grasses grow tall, there is also a chance that the mites would have migrated over from those places.
The bank mite, brown mite, and clover mite are the three most common types of lawn mites. The ideal areas for lawn mite infestations are drought-affected regions. In most cases, mites begin their feeding and destruction of the turfgrass in the winter and spring months.
You’ll start to notice mite damage in the spring, when the vegetation is starting to green up. The turf will be green in the healthy areas, while injured portions will not turn green or take form of unevenly-shaped patches. It’s too late to get rid of the mites at that point, in that they’ve already fed on the grass.
Areas to look for mites are along the slopes, west, and in the south-facing regions closest to lawn edges where the sun heats up. Mites are tiny parasites that breed rapidly, creating vast colonies. Their devastation on your grass will be extreme. When mending your lawn, you’ll have to replant the grass as well.
How To Kill Lawn Mites
We know now what lawn mites are, how to spot them, and what causes their damage. If you’ve spotted these tiny pests on your lawn or garden, the next step is to kill them! There are multiple ways, both organic and inorganic, to eliminate these nuisances, so let’s go through them!
Naturally
There are a few organic gardening methods for getting rid of lawn mites in your yard and garden.
The best approach to prevent a mite infestation is to water your grass in the winter, and watering it on a regular basis when you have one will aid in its management. You should also remove as many weeds as possible from your lawn, and dethatch the lawn and remove any dead plants, grass, and other organic matter.
Cutting the grass very short, also known as “scalping,” helps rid the mites of their territory and feeding ground as well. If left untreated, severe infestations might require the complete grass to be replaced.
If lawn mites infest your home, vacuum them rather than stomping on them because they might leave a crimson stain.
Chemicals
Pesticides can help you get rid of minor infestations, but they’re typically ineffective against mites, according to specialists. If you do decide to use a pesticide, do it while the colonies are still tiny and plan on doing two treatments 10 to 14 days apart.
The best choice is a lawn mite killer insecticide that contains lambda-cyhalothrin or bifenthrin as an active ingredient. Before using any pesticides or chemical agents, always make sure to read the label thoroughly and take the proper safety precautions.
How To Prevent Lawn Mite Infestations
One key preventative measure is to keep your lawn from falling into drought conditions. Keeping your lawn watered and healthy the winter months will keep it from drying out, and therefore keep the mites from taking over as well.
Mites may come into your home or garden while attached to a bird or a rodent. To prevent, you’ll need to discourage the host from entering your property in the first place. To prevent rodents and other animals from entering your home, seal entry points around the roof, chimney, doors and windows.
Remove vegetation growing within 18 to 24 inches of the foundation to keep lawn mites out, and then apply pesticide to the plant-free zone and at least 10 feet into the yard. If you want greenery near your home, try plants that are known to repel mites like juniper, zinnia, and roses.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, take steps to get rid of these pesky critters before they cause too much damage! Also, be sure you’re aware of what conditions promote mites. If you can prevent them in the early stages, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money later on!
If you need help getting rid of lawn mites in your yard or garden, feel free to contact us today. We’ll do our best to help you out! We hope you’ve found this article helpful and informative, and wish you all the best with your mite problem!
