MITE DAMAGE ON COLORADO LAWNS
Lawn Mites, Clover Mites, Grass Mites, or Spider Mites are All The Same Thing
Lawn mites are tiny insects that are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. During dry periods, especially when found indoors, they appear brick-red in color. Spider mites feed on grass roots and blades using their rasping, sucking mouthparts, which can damage the grass to the point of death.
In the Boulder and Fort Collins areas, lawn mites are typically located on the south-facing sides of buildings, in rock beds, on sun-exposed slopes, and on pine trees. They commonly feed on grass from November to March during warm, dry weather, and they take shelter in pine trees and buildings during cold, wet conditions.
What Time of Year Do Lawn Mites Damage Grass?
Mites generally cause the most damage to grass on south-facing slopes between December and March, with peak damage often occurring in February and March. Typically, homeowners do not discover this damage until the lawn begins to green up in the spring. At that point, they may notice that only certain areas of the lawn have greened up, while other small sections or larger areas may have been killed during the winter months.
The grass in this Boulder area lawn was damaged from spider mites. They feed on the grass during dry periods and take shelter in the tree during wet weather.
What does Spider Mite Damage in a Lawn Look Like?
Mite damage to lawns is usually noticed after the grass has started to green up in the spring. You may observe small sections or large areas that fail to turn green. The affected turf remains visible long after the mites have stopped feeding, making it too late to manage their impact.
Turf damaged by mites appears as irregularly shaped straw-colored patches while the surrounding lawn continues to turn green. This damage is most common on south or southwest-facing areas of a lawn. Severe damage is more likely to occur on sloped lawns or where grass roots are shallow, often due to improper watering practices during the summer months. Lawns that are watered using the 1-2-3-2-1 technique are 90% less likely to experience mite damage compared to those that are watered daily.
Clover mite damage typically occurs within 5-10 feet of buildings, fences, trees, or other vertical structures. Since mites are extremely small and tend to hide in the turf when disturbed, they can be very difficult to spot.
Click on Grass Mite Damaged Lawns Photos Below to Enlarge
How to Tell if a Lawn Is Being Attacked by Mites?
Monitoring mite populations in your lawn is quite straightforward. Start by taking a white piece of paper and scraping some grass from an area that may be susceptible to mites. Look closely at the small dots on the paper; if they move, you have mites present.
If you believe your lawn is at risk for spider mite damage and think you may need treatment, you can contact our office to be added to our special contact list. By registering for this list, we will keep you informed during times when grass mites are most likely to be active.
During spider mite season, we carefully monitor mite populations in Colorado. When activity begins, we will reach out to our customers as a reminder to check their lawns for any signs of mite activity.
Organic Method to Kill Spider Mites
Did You Know that Lawn Mites Can Be Controlled With Water?
Did you know that spider mites do not like water? One effective way to prevent damage from spider mites is to water your lawn during prolonged periods of drought. In fact, you can manage spider mite populations simply by keeping your lawn adequately watered.
During the winter months, lawn mites tend to be most active. Typically, sprinklers are turned off during this time, and the only way to water the lawn is by using a hose and sprinkler head. It’s especially important to water the south-facing areas of your lawn during warm and dry spells in winter. Regularly watering your lawn is one of the best methods to prevent spider mite damage.
Schedule an Expert Lawn Evaluation
Organo-Lawn is your local lawn care expert and can explain in Layman’s terms what is causing the lawn to have brown
spots. Call today to talk to one of our professional lawn care technicians.
(303) 499-2000 Boulder or (970) 225-9425 Fort Collins
How to Control Spider Mites in a Lawn without Chemicals
Ecotrol – Organic Insecticide
Organo-Lawn offers a specialized treatment for spider mites using an organic insecticide called Ecotrol. This product is an EPA 25b exempt pesticide and is OMRI approved for organic use. Ecotrol is made up of 10% Rosemary Oil, 2% Peppermint Oil, and 88% other ingredients, which include Wintergreen Oil, Vanillin, Lecithin, and Butyl Lactate. These horticultural oils effectively penetrate the soft bodies of mites, destroying their protective exoskeletons.
For optimal results, the organic miticide treatment should be applied while the mites are actively feeding. Each application can eliminate up to 85% of the active mite population. In severe infestations, Organo-Lawn recommends 1 to 3 applications of Ecotrol to completely eradicate mite populations in grassy areas. The exact number of applications needed may vary based on weather conditions. For example, if the winter weather is stormy, cold, and snowy, fewer applications may be necessary.
OMRI Spider Mite Control
Mite Treatment Season Is
Any time that spider mite activity is active. Usually between the months of November and March
Peak Months – February and March
FAQ – Spider Mite Control in Lawns
Can Spider Mites Be Killed Organically?
Yes, spider mites can be controlled without using chemicals. These soft-bodied insects are highly susceptible to various non-toxic treatments, such as insecticidal soaps or even just plain water. One of the best organic treatments for lawn mites is an insecticidal oil called Ecotrol. This product contains 10% rosemary oil, 2% peppermint oil, and 88% other ingredients, which include wintergreen oil, vanillin, lecithin, and butyl lactate. Ecotrol penetrates the soft bodies of the mites, destroying their protective exoskeletons. However, this treatment will only be effective against mites when they are active.
Is the Ecotrol insecticide treatment safe for my pets and children?
According to the Department of Agriculture we legally cannot claim anything is safe. According to the Department of Agriculture water is not safe. Ecotrol is a OMRI approved organic insecticide. According to the label you can reenter the treated area as soon as the product has dried. All of the ingredients in Ecotrol are considered to be edible.
