Spider Mites and How To Get Rid Of Them

One of the most commonly asked questions we receive from our clients is how to get rid of spider mites. These pests can attack a wide variety of plants, and you’ll usually find them located underneath the leaves. They love the hot and dry conditions in Nevada and can wreak havoc on your stunning new garden if they are left unattended. Here we’re going to share with you everything you need to know about spider mites and how to eradicate them from your home.

What are Spider Mites?

Spider mites are part of the arachnid family, however, they don’t look like your typical spiders. Instead, they are tiny insects that quickly destroy the plants in your backyard. They have the ability to wipe out an entire garden very quickly due to their huge appetite and how rapidly they reproduce while living on your plants. Spider mites usually leave their webs underneath your plant leaves and will also lay eggs to hatch. While spider mites themselves only live for about a month, they constantly lay eggs, which hatch in just a few days. This is why they are such a nuisance to homeowners and farmers, who find it challenging to keep on top of the quick turnover of these pests.

Top Indicators That You Have Spider Mites in Your Backyard

Due to the tiny size of spider mites, it can be difficult to know whether they are attacking your plants before it’s too late. They only live on the underside of the leaves, so they are often missed when individuals are tending to their plants. While you’ll see webs and threads underneath the leaves, this can be a time-consuming task to check every plant. The key indicator that you have spider mites is noticing yellow or white spots on your leaves. If you think you have an infestation, you can place a piece of paper underneath the plant and shake off the leaves to see if anything drops off. From there, you can take a look at what’s come off the plant and determine whether you have spider mites.

What Plants are Most Likely to Attract Spider Mites?

While spider mites may find their way onto almost any type of plant, they do particularly like certain fruit and vegetable plants. If you are growing tomatoes, strawberries, eggplants, or beans in your backyard, keep an eye out for this issue on these plants. Spider mites can easily travel between plants, so once one section of your garden is infested, they can quickly move over and destroy the next section of plants. In southern Nevada, this is a particularly common issue to experience during the spring and summer months, as the weather begins to warm up.

How to Get Rid of Spider Mites

Spider mites are certainly an issue you don’t want to experience in your home. However, the good news is that if you do find you are attacked by these pests, there are many safe and easy ways to save your plants or crops.

Insecticides

The best way to get rid of spider mites is by using a pesticide. For most homeowners today, you’ll want to try and find a non-toxic solution for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you’ll find that toxic pesticides kill off any type of insects in your garden, some of which may be useful for controlling the spider mite outbreak. Also, spider mites often become resistant to these pesticides, so they continue to breed and destroy your plants. We also believe organic and non-toxic pesticides are a much safer option for the environment.

When it comes to your options, neem oil and insecticidal oil are popular choices and kill the spider mites very quickly. Alternatively, find a miticide, which will also resolve the issue without much effort. Other natural solutions include insecticidal soaps and diatomaceous earth, which can help to efficiently resolve your spider mite infestation. If you are looking for a completely natural solution, you may wish to spray a few drops of essential oil mixed with water on your infested plants. The best options for this task are spearmint, chamomile, rosemary, and coriander essential oils.

Natural Spider Mite Solutions

If you would prefer to take the natural route, this may require a little more time and patience. One option is to isolate the problem plant and then spray down the leaves and stems of your plant with pressure water. You’ll need to repeat this multiple times to have a chance of saving your plant. Otherwise, you could introduce natural predators to kill off the spider mites, such as ladybugs or parasitic mites. These can be purchased from nurseries, but you’ll need to ensure you are using the correct predators for the time of year and the type of plant you are trying to save from a spider mite infestation.

Preventing Spider Mites in Your Garden

The best way to save your plants in the future is to prevent spider mites from spreading throughout your garden. Here at Centerpoint Landscaping, we believe hiring a professional residential landscaping team for regular maintenance is the first step towards having a healthy yard. While we will work to increase your curb appeal and offer you a beautiful outdoor space for your family, we can also help to identify and then control troublesome pests and weeds. Our team of experienced professionals is used to seeing spider mites in Nevada and know the key indicators that your garden has been infested with these tiny pests. We know how valuable the time and money you invest in your yard is and will work to keep your home in the best condition possible.

If you are concerned you are experiencing a spider mite infestation in your home currently, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Centerpoint Landscaping today. We can work to identify the problem you are facing and offer you the best solution to restore your plants to their previous condition in no time at all.