Don’t Web Me Down

Is your garden riddled with speckled leaves and webbing? Is your favorite shrub starting to drop leaves unexpectedly? Does your prized tree suddenly look dusty? Your yard may be under attack from spider mites. Spider mites are tiny arachnids that are a common pest in landscapes everywhere. They feed with piercing mouths that suck out sap and leave behind damaged plants. With hundreds of different species, everything from trees to turf to garden veggies can be a potential host for mites.

What does spider mite damage look like?
Spider mite damage will usually appear as white to yellow speckling on leaves that can range from a light stippling to a gray-bronze appearance. Leaves and needles may scorch and drop prematurely which can lead to stress and potential death of the plant. Turf will often dry up in patches. A good indicator of spider mites is webbing or the presence of the mites on the underside of damaged leaves. Large infestations will leave a plant looking dusty or dull. Look for these signs in sheltered areas, near buildings, along driveways and sidewalks, or on southern exposures where the landscape is likely to be drier.

When are spider mites active in the landscape?
Most spider mites favor hot, dry conditions, so they are often most active in July and August. However, some spider mites enjoy cooler weather, including the spruce spider mite and mites that damage turf, so they will be more active the rest of the year. Since the Front Range of Colorado is a semi-arid climate, we can often get temperature fluctuations and dry conditions year-round. This means Denver landscapes could potentially be damaged anytime, including winter!

What can I do to prevent spider mite damage?
The best defense against spider mite outbreaks is to limit drought stress during our dry periods by watering. Bailey Tree stresses the importance of watering your landscape in the fall/winter, and this includes your trees! We offer professional winter watering that can keep your trees healthy.

Call Bailey Tree today for your free winter watering estimate! We will take the labor and guess work out of your hands to keep your landscape looking its best!