The winter weather your lawn goes through can have a big impact on the way your grass and trees grow in the spring. As warmer weather arrives on your property, you do not want to worry about the extra presence of insects that can cause damage to your lawn. In the early spring months, you may notice major changes to the condition of your grass due to turf mites.
Turf mites can present a lot of problems with your lawn and change your landscape for the worse. Follow this guide to learn more about turf mites, early signs, and some of the spring lawn care services that will help eradicate turf mites from your property.
Overview of Turf Mites
Turf mites get their name from the way they feed off the turf on lawns. Scientifically known as the Bryobia praetiosa, turf mites have a number of nicknames used by landscaping companies and pest control companies. Along with turf mites, the small creatures have been referred to as clover mites, lawn mites, spider mites, and grass mites.
All of the terms are interchangeable and refer to the same bug. The name spider mite comes from the visual of the small mite when looked at up close. Rarely visible to the naked eye, the small mites resemble a spider when looked at through a microscope or magnifying glass.
Turf mites feed on grass. Specifically, they will go to the root of the grass and feed on the nutrients found in the blades. Due to their small size, you often will have no idea when the mites have invaded your lawn.
Winter Weather & Turf Mites
Towards the end of winter, turf mites begin to emerge. The amount of turf mites will often increase in dry weather conditions. The less humidity, the more the mites will grow in population and prosper on your lawn. If you near the end of an unusually dry winter, then you could expect a major increase in turf mites.
The early spring months may bring dry weather as well, especially in areas around Denver, Colorado. A landscaping company can help you plan for the first months of spring, especially when dry weather has been prevalent in the area.
Signs of Turf Mites
When your area has had an influx of dry weather, you will want to look for signs of turf mites right away. The grass itself provides some of the key signs turf mites have invaded. You have no need to use flashlights or large magnifying glasses to look for the mites.
If you have patches of brown grass on your property, then turf mites are the most likely cause. As turf mites feed on the grass, they take away nutrients and eventually kill off sections of the grass. You will notice patches of brown spots all across the lawn. You want to treat the area before the spots become big and widespread.
Professional Treatment for Turf Mites
As winter transitions into spring, you can hire landscaping services to treat your property before too much damage has occurred. One of the best treatment options includes moisture for your lawn. A landscaping team will ensure your lawn includes a proper watering system to moisturize the grass and soil.
As part of the process, your lawn may include an aeration treatment. Special machines go over your lawn to break up the surface level, allow the soil to breathe, and give pathways for moisture to reach deep down into grass roots. In dry weather, aeration can make a big difference in loosening tough soil.
Lawn fertilization can also help prevent turf mites. The introduction of new soil and fertilizer will help the grass grow, thrive, and stay moist. Through a deep analysis of your lawn, professionals can choose the best fertilization to last through the spring season and prevent the spread of turf mites.
Each year as spring rolls around, you can go through the same process and keep your lawn thriving for the rest of the year. If you ignore the turf mite issue, your lawn could dry out even further and result in issues for other plants on your property.
For example, sections of dead grass and dried lawns could impact the health of trees on your property. Tree roots may not obtain the same moisture either and the growth of turf mites can lead to the invasion of other insects and bugs that feed off of the trees. With early treatments, you can avoid extensive landscape work in the future and help establish a healthy lawn for years to come.
For more information on turf mite treatment, contact us at Schulhoff Tree & Lawn Care, Inc. We offer many lawn care services for the spring and can get you started right away with our professional care. If needed, you can book an evaluation and allow us to come inspect your lawn and give our best thoughts on the services you need.