So tiny yet so irritating, chiggers are one of the common pests that people hate to have in their homes. However, their primary residence is actually on the lawns or yards outside the house. Chiggers move in by attaching themselves to pets, rodents, or even humans that cross paths with them. Although they don’t transmit diseases, their bites are very annoying due to the excessive itching that provokes scratching. Worry no more because I am going to tell you how to get rid of chiggers in the yard today. Each method works in different conditions, so pick the best ones for yours.
Contents
1st Strategy: Clear The Yard
One of the methods to get rid of chiggers is by clearing any possible conditions that may welcome them. I am talking about areas with heavy vegetation or tall grass that these pests can hide in. If your yards have overgrown berry thickets, bushes, brush, grass, shrubs, or weeds, clear them all. Those are clearly the shelters of chiggers or other pests that you don’t know about yet. That is not all, you will also have to remove branches, leaves, and other plant matter from the yard. Rake them all, then mow your lawn to create cleaner and clearer environments that are inhospitable to those chiggers. All of these also discourage adult harvest mites who lay eggs that produce chigger larvae from leaving their spawns in your yard. Without hospitable shelters, there won’t be chiggers.
2nd Strategy: Diatomaceous Earth
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Chiggers are arachnids which means they have exoskeletons, and diatomaceous earth is among the most effective ways to kill them. All you need to do is dusting or sprinkling diatomaceous earth across your lawn or yard. It kills those pests immediately and repels the rest from coming back. At the same time, this substance can also get rid of other exoskeleton insects along with the chiggers too. I personally like diatomaceous earth because it is not only effective but also safe for humans and pets. It is nice to have this helpful item at home because it will always come in handy.
3rd Strategy: Frequent Maintenance
When you neglect your lawn or yard, chiggers will linger. This is why you have to prune and trim the landscape plants regularly to keep them from becoming overgrown. One of the effective ways to get rid of chiggers is by creating sunny areas because chiggers avoid such places. Debbie mentioned in her article on ThoughtCo that eliminating shade in the yard can reduce the chigger population. Frequent maintenance is just the repetition of what you did in the previous tip above, but way more often. Spend at least one day a week to mow your lawn and remove any accumulated leaf litter. Doing so simply makes your lawn or yard look more beautiful while having fewer pests.
4th Strategy: Get Rid Of Their Hosts
Chiggers don’t just appear out of nowhere, there must be hosts that bring them into your yard. Instead of blood, chiggers feed on decayed skill cells from amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals that live near humans’ residences. So if there are animals like frogs, lizards, mice, raccoons, snakes, or squirrels in your area, one of them is the host. Living in open areas where those animals are frequent is not uncommon to have chiggers somewhere in your backyard. To solve this problem fast, you have to prevent those animals from entering your property first. When there is no presence from any of the hosts, it is also less likely for chiggers to appear.
5th Strategy: Plant Marigolds
Surprisingly, marigolds are the enemies to many critters and pests out there which is a good thing. Marigolds are beautiful, and they can even repel chiggers along with other animals that irritate you. You can plant them along the fence or in pots, and that’s why. These brightly colored flowers will adorn your space while keeping the annoying pests out. It is a win for you, and it is also a very easy and simple solution too.
6th Strategy: Remove All Trash
Another possible area that chiggers may live and hide in is among the trash in your lawn or yard. These pests also like to live in damp and dark areas with moisture while waiting for their prey. So food wrappers, plastic bags, and other trash can be where chiggers lurking under. This is why you have to regularly remove all trash from the bins on your property. If you have a chigger problem, don’t wait until the bin is full to throw them away. By doing so, you will only encourage those insects to stay longer. Because chiggers cannot jump or fly, they simply sit and wait for a host to latch onto. When you clear out the trashy habitats, those annoying insects will move somewhere else instead.
7th Strategy: Use Reclaim IT
Reclaim IT is a bifenthrin insecticide concentrate that is very effective in controlling insects and pests. This insecticide alone can get rid of more than 70 types of insects, and chiggers are one of them. It repels, kills, and prevents those unwanted guests from entering your property in the future. On top of that, its effects last up to 90 days or even longer on dry and hot days. It is safe for humans and pets, and it is brutal against insects and pests in the yard. Alongside its benefits, Reclaim IT neither contains odor nor leaves a stain after simply incredible use. There are instructions on the label that you can follow, and it is also very easy to use.
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