Spider mites are one of the most common pests in the garden, and they’re tricky to get rid of. They’re also invisible to the naked eye, so you could be infested without knowing it.
Luckily, there are many different ways on how to kill spider mites, and the good news is that many of those methods are easy enough for even a novice gardener to use. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most effective methods for getting rid of spider mites in your garden.
Before you learn how to kill spider mites, get to know more about them!
Have you ever seen those little red dots on your plants? It might be hard to tell if they’re bugs or just some kind of nutrient deficiency, but we can assure you, those are spider mites.
Spider mites are tiny insects that like to eat plants, and they can make your garden look like something out of a nightmare. That’s why many gardeners are so desperate to kill spider mites. `
They’re so small that it’s almost impossible to see them with the naked eye, but if you observe closely, you can notice their fine webs around the leaves and even minuscule eggs in the webbing.
- Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged creatures related to ticks and spiders.
- They live on plants and feed on the sap that comes from them.
- They don’t eat the leaves or stems of the plants, just the sap.
- Spider mites are especially prevalent during warm weather when they multiply quickly and can destroy entire crops in weeks.
Since spider mites are hard to notice, we’ve listed symptoms.
So before you know how to kill spider mites, you need to ensure whether they’re present on your plants or not. This can save you time and effort.
- Yellowish or brownish speckling on the leaves
- Spots that look like dust and are usually found in the center of the leaf
- Leaves that curl and turn yellow or brown
- Plants that appear droopy or limp
- Plants lose vigor and stop growing
- If you shake the plant, you’ll see lots of little dots fall off onto your hand
6 Ways on how to kill spider mites
Many people are very afraid of spiders and mites. Most of us want to eliminate them but don’t know how. If you want to learn how to kill spider mites in your garden, here are some simple tips that will help you.
1. Spray some mixture.
Spray a mixture of water mixed with soap, dish detergent, or insecticidal soap on all parts of the plant where spider mites are present, such as leaves and stems.
Apply this every two weeks until they are gone completely from your garden area, so they don’t come back again! This is one of the easy ways on how to kill spider mites at home.
2. Use diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous earth is made from fossilized diatoms. It’s a fine powder that kills spider mites by drying them out or scraping off their exoskeletons. You can sprinkle it on the base of your plants or over a larger area of your garden where they’re likely to be hiding in cracks and crevices. You can purchase diatomaceous earth online or at your local store.
3. Biological control
There are insects like ladybugs that kill spider mites naturally! You can purchase these at nurseries or order them online if you don’t have access locally.
4. Apply an organic pesticide
If the infestation is really bad, consider getting an organic pesticide like pyrethrin to spray over your plants. This will kill off all the mites without harming any other beneficial bugs in your yard.
5. Use horticultural oil.
Horticultural oil contains fatty acids that penetrate the leaf cuticle and kill spider mites from within their bodies. It also helps prevent new mite infestations by coating leaves with an oily layer that prevents them from breathing properly enough to reproduce successfully while they’re still alive!
6. Use neem oil
Neem oil serves as an insecticide and fungicide in one, making it a great option for getting rid of both spider mites and fungal infections on your plants at the same time!
Just ensure not to get it in any part of the plant where you want, such as flowers, because it can easily prevent pollination if applied incorrectly.
Preventing spider mites
1. Prune your plants regularly.
This helps prevent mite infestations from spreading because it removes areas where the bugs can hide from sunlight and wind. If you observe new growth on your plant that looks different than usual, prune it off as soon as possible.
2. Water early in the day.
It is important so that the leaves dry off before nightfall when mites tend to be active again. This will also help prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew from forming by keeping humidity levels low around your plants’ leaves, making them more susceptible.
3. Clean your garden daily.
Eliminate dead leaves and debris from the area where the spider mites are present. This will help prevent them from spreading and reproducing in your garden.
Why would you want to kill spider mites immediately?
Spider mites are a serious threat to your plants, and you need to take action quickly if you want to save your plants.
Here are three reasons why we recommend acting as soon as possible!
1. They’re hard to identify.
Spider mites appear like tiny dots on the top of leaves, which is why they’re often mistaken for other kinds of pests. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to think that the problem isn’t as serious as it actually is.
2. They can multiply quickly in hot weather.
Spider mites reproduce by laying eggs on the underside of leaves and feeding off sap from plants. This means that once they’ve made their way into your garden or indoor space, they’re almost impossible to get rid of completely, and it’s even harder if they’ve already made themselves at home in your space!
3. They affect your plant’s health over time.
They do it by sucking out the plant’s nutrients and leaving only damaged tissue behind them until there’s nothing left but a withered plant.
Takeaway
The best and most efficient way on how to kill spider mites is a combination of treatments. If you have an organic garden, you can use insecticidal soap, neem oil spray, or diatomaceous earth. For more chemical-based options, try insecticidal soaps or pyrethrin sprays.
As you can see, there are different ways to kill spider mites. But the best way is by identifying the problem and addressing it right away. If you’ve been experiencing issues with spider mites in your home or garden, it’s important to take action as soon as possible!