- Painful bites
- How can I tell if grass mites live in my garden?
- Combat grass mites as early as spring
The tiny arachnids prefer warm areas, but are now found throughout Europe. Once the tormentors have settled in your garden, it is difficult to get rid of them. You should therefore become active in the spring and take appropriate measures to contain the pests.
If you drive away grass mites in spring, you have a better chance of getting rid of the animals
Painful bites
The adult mites overwinter in the soil at a depth of up to one meter. Here they can easily survive even longer periods of frost. When temperatures rise in spring, head to the surface to mate. After about four weeks, which can be from mid-May in very warm years, the mite larvae hatch, causing the unpleasant, very itchy wheals.
You don't notice anything about the actual bite at first, because the itching only starts after about 24 hours. However, the red pustules itch violently for weeks. The symptoms are made worse by the fact that the arachnids almost always bite several times in a row.
How can I tell if grass mites live in my garden?
Since the larvae of the running mites are only about 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters in size, it is almost impossible to spot them with the naked eye. As proof, you can put a piece of white paper in the meadow on a warm, dry spring day. The bright surface attracts the animals and they are easily recognizable due to their dark body.
Combat grass mites as early as spring
Prevention is the best remedy against the nuisances:
- Carefully scarify the lawn in spring and fertilize the green with calcium-nitrogen.
- Mow at least once a week throughout the growing season, more often if necessary.
- Water the grass when it is dry, this drives the arachnids into the soil.
- Treat shoes, clothing and skin with an effective repellent.
- After gardening you should put the textiles in the laundry and shower thoroughly.
tips
Grass mite concentrates or neem extracts are suitable for direct control on the lawn. These should be applied in good time in the spring. If you can identify the areas that the animals prefer, you can spray them with 70 percent medical alcohol.