Have you ever wondered what’s causing your lawn to lose its lush green color? Lawn mites are probably responsible for the damage. But you won’t see them because these critters are too small to be spotted with the naked eye.
Nevertheless, lawn mites are a scourge for every homeowner. And the worst part? They won’t just damage your lawn. These mites will even move onto shrubs and other broadleaf plants. Either way, you have to figure out how to get rid of lawn mites before they turn your property into a barren landscape.
How Can You Eliminate Lawn Mites Fast?
Lawn mites might seem like minor bugs. However, once they reach sufficient numbers, the mites can cause significant damage to your grass. Mostly, you’ll notice a patch of grass that seems burnt. In a severe infestation, you could even lose your entire lawn.
So, you can probably see why it’s so important to get rid of lawn mites and to do so fast. Here are a few steps you can follow to do just that.
Identify Lawn Mite Infestation
First of all, you need to know what you’re dealing with. Usually, the first sign of a mite infestation is damaged grass. These bugs feed on the sap from grass leaves, so you’ll quickly notice discolored leaves.
Also, if there’s a severe infestation, you can even see mites crawling around your lawn. Check out the underside of your grass leaves for small red dots moving about.
Isolate
Once you confirm the presence of a heavy mite infestation on your lawn, you have to quarantine that area. You can isolate the red zone by digging a trench to mark the infested region. Once these insects exhaust all the lush greenery in one spot, they’ll eventually move to the next patch.
Apply Insecticide
An insecticide is a surefire way of handling mites. The insecticide targets octopamine receptors in mites. These nerve points control how insects move, their heart rate, metabolism, etc. Such chemicals are often combined with botanical repellants and geraniol.
Ideally, proper lawn maintenance will keep mite populations low. Nevertheless, once you compromise on caring for your grass, the bugs will quickly take over.
Applying insecticide is the best answer to how to get rid of lawn mites. The chemicals automatically kill the insects, so you won’t have to worry about further control measures.
If you’re targeting your backyard lawn, a single bottle will go the extra mile. By the time it’s exhausted, you will have eliminated all lawn mites from your grass.
How To Get Rid Of Lawn Mites Naturally
Spraying insecticides is the quickest way to clear out lawn mites. The chemicals target the insects’ nervous system, weaken their metabolism and quickly eliminate them. However, if you’re not looking to spray your beautiful lawn with toxic chemicals, there are other alternatives as well.
Organic options can be scentless, stress-free, and non-toxic to the environment. Regular watering, for example, is a pretty straightforward solution. However, since chemicals can leave a nasty scent on your lawn, you can also find out how to get rid of lawn mites using organic oils.
Spray Water
If there are clover mites in your backyard, then you probably haven’t been watering your lawn. Mites hate water, and regular irrigation is a means to eliminate these eight-legged freaks.
You’re mostly going to find mites on the south-facing slope. These insects prefer a toasty environment. Water not only nourishes your lawn but also keeps things cool so the mites will die off.
It would be best if you watered as frequently as you can. Doing so in the winter months eliminates any dormant mite colonies before the grass regrows. But if you already have a mite problem, water can help control the population before moving on to using an insecticide.
Maintaining your lawn is the best preventive measure you can undertake. Once things get out of hand, you’ll have to renovate the entire place to get rid of the lawn mites completely.
Insecticidal Oils
Some herbs and plants repel mites and other insects. For example, oil extracts from rosemary, peppermint, and neem are vital ingredients when formulating potent insecticides.
Ecotrol® Plus is a standout bio-control measure against lawn mites. The product combines multiple oils to form an assertive mite control agent. The size of the mite infestation on your backyard lawn doesn’t matter. Ecotrol® Plus is effective against both juvenile and adult mites.
A 1-gallon bottle of Ecotrol is good for up to 8 acres of land. The product will also eliminate a wide range of pesky bugs, including those resistant to pyrethroids and traditional insecticides.
Ecotrol is a certified organic substance that does not leave behind a chemical imprint. So if you are looking for an all-natural control measure against lawn mites, grab a bottle of the insecticidal oil Ecotrol® Plus.
Spraying Ecotrol® Plus on your lawn
Ecotrol is a versatile mite control agent. You can use it on your lawn and even indoors on house plants in case of a mite infestation.
For indoor use, use one part Ecotrol agent to 300 parts of a diluting agent. Ideally, it would be best if you used a hand sprayer inside your home. It is small enough not to make a mess indoors. Also, it is a lot easier to make precise attacks against bugs.
If you’re spraying outside, you’ll need a higher dose. Mix the product using a 1:200 ratio inside a larger sprayer. You can use a knapsack or a mechanized spray tank if you’re dealing with an extensive plot.
Some of the spray particles may miss the grass. Also, the wind will blow away a portion of the miticide, hence the need to use a slightly higher dose for outdoor spraying.
Finding Lawn Mites With A Targeted Approach
Lawn mites thrive in warmer environments and are a menace in warmer states like Colorado. But the insects pick a few spots to hide in – rocks and trees. They’ll even nest on building walls and fences as long as they’re close to lawn grass.
Once you’ve mixed the product with the right amount of water, fill your sprayer. A smaller hand sprayer is best for indoor mite control.
When you are outside, spray the insecticide on the grass with visible mite damage. After that, move to any trees and bushes nearby, the fence, and the walls of a building. Mites will usually feed on the grass and then move to the trees to hide. So, make sure you give these hiding spots a good wash.
Predisposing Factors For Mite Infestation On Your Lawn
Mites feed on grass sap, and if you’ve got lush grass growing on your lawn, you’ll automatically be at risk of an infestation. But, not every yard has a colony of these arachnids crawling all over it.
How you handle and maintain your lawn grass has a bearing on the insect population. Nevertheless, only one factor predisposes your backyard to mite attacks – a lack of water.
When it is dry, mites will descend on your lawn to feed on the grass. Once it gets cold and wet, the bugs will quickly shift to nearby rocks and spruce trees for shelter. The brood can also migrate to buildings that are close to the lawn for protection.
Moreover, the female mite will lay her eggs when conditions are optimal at between 50-70F°. These eggs will then hatch as temperatures drop towards winter, after which they’ll descend on your lawn. Many homeowners skip watering their lawn in winter, so the damage caused by mites often goes unnoticed.
How To Know If You Have An Active Mite Infestation
The clearest sign of mites on your lawn is dead grass. These bugs feed on grass, and once the colony grows, your property will sustain enough damage to eliminate the growing grass.
Mites that are active in the winter rarely attract enough attention from homeowners. As a result, the effect of their feeding won’t be evident until spring, when plants start turning green once more.
If your lawn irrigation doesn’t cover some spots, the grass will eventually turn brown because of mites. You might also notice the regions closest to the insects’ preferred sheltering points, rocks, spruce trees, changing color.
If you can pick out mite damage early on, you can halt it and control the surging insect population. Watch out for a yellow or silver hue on the grass blades at the early stages of a mite infestation. Grass will gradually turn from green to brown following the insects’ feeding.
Closing Thoughts
The main takeaway from this article has to be that you need to get rid of lawn mites as quickly as possible. If you’ve noticed a change in the health of your grass, you probably have a mite infestation. However, if it is not a significant threat, taking immediate action will help preserve your lawn grass.
Regular watering is undoubtedly the best way to maintain your lawn’s health. The grass needs water to grow. Also, lawn mites are unenthusiastic about a wet and cold environment. That’s why they quickly shift to rocks, pine trees, and even your home once the weather changes. So next time you’re wondering how to get rid of lawn mites permanently, get a sprinkler running, and you’ll be one step closer to realizing a mite-free property.