Month: April 2024

Controlling Clover Mites

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Clover mites are tiny arachnids that often find their way into homes, causing annoyance and concern among homeowners. Although they are not harmful to humans, their presence can be irritating and unsightly. To help you keep your home pest-free, we’ve created this simple guide on identifying and controlling clover mites. By following these steps, you can improve the quality of your life and ensure a more comfortable living environment.

Identifying Clover Mites

Clover mites are minuscule arachnids, typically less than a millimeter in size. They are reddish-brown or dark green in color, with eight legs. The front two legs are longer than the others and are often mistaken for antennae. Here are some key characteristics to help you identify clover mites:

  • Small, oval-shaped bodies
  • Eight legs, with the front two being longer than the others
  • Reddish-brown or dark green color
  • Frequently found near plants and vegetation

Clover Mite Habitats

Clover mites are usually found outdoors, living in and around plants, especially clovers, grasses, and other lawn vegetation. They are more prevalent during the spring and fall, as they thrive in cooler temperatures. These tiny creatures can make their way indoors through cracks, windows, and doorways, looking for moisture and shelter.

Preventing Clover Mite Infestations

Prevention is the most effective way to deal with clover mites. By taking the following steps, you can significantly reduce the chances of these pests entering your home:

  • Keep plants and vegetation at least 18-24 inches away from the foundation of your home.
  • Seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s exterior, including around windows and doors.
  • Use a gravel or stone barrier around your home’s foundation to deter clover mites from crossing over.
  • Maintain a healthy, well-kept lawn to discourage clover mite infestations.

Controlling Clover Mites

If you’ve discovered clover mites inside your home, take the following measures to control and eliminate them:

  1. Vacuum up any visible mites using a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. Be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister outside to prevent reinfestation.
  2. Wash your windows, doors, and any other surfaces where clover mites are present using a mild soap and water solution. This helps to remove any remaining mites and their eggs.
  3. Use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture levels in your home, making it less hospitable for clover mites.
  4. Remove any and all grasses or weeds that are within 2 feet of the house.
  5. Treat the exterior of your house with Bifen IT at a rate of one ounce per gallon being sure to get up under any cracks or openings in the bottom of the siding and all over the lower walls up to the first floor window. Retreat again after 30 days to ensure complete control.
  6. You should also treat the lawn around the perimeter of your house out to 10-20 feet away from the house. Some people prefer to use a granular treatment for the exterior of the house. Bifen L/P being one of the most popular.
  7. Bifen IT is labeled for indoor use as well, however, special care should always be taken when using insecticides inside the home. As always, please follow the label’s instructions when using any kind of pesticide to ensure your safety as well as the environment.

Identifying and controlling clover mites doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you can keep your home pest-free and ensure a comfortable living environment. Remember, prevention is key, so take measures to keep your home’s exterior sealed and maintain a healthy lawn to discourage clover mite infestations.

Winning the Battle Against Chamberbitter Weeds

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Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria), also known as Gripeweed or Little Mimosa, is a persistent, invasive weed that can quickly infest your lawn and ruin its appearance. As a resilient and fast-spreading weed, Chamberbitter can be challenging to control. This is why it is crucial to be consistent and timely in your efforts. With the right knowledge and techniques, you can reclaim your beautiful lawn. In this blog post, we will explore the most effective ways to control Chamberbitter weeds in your lawn.

  1. Identify the enemy: Before you begin your battle against Chamberbitter, it’s essential to correctly identify the weed. Chamberbitter is a small, erect, annual plant that can grow up to 2 feet tall. Its leaves resemble those of the Mimosa tree, with tiny leaflets arranged in two rows along a central stem. The weed produces small, greenish-white flowers and tiny, flattened, round seeds that are enclosed in a capsule. When these capsules mature, they can burst and forcibly eject seeds, dispersing them in the immediate vicinity. This process, known as explosive dehiscence, can scatter seeds several feet away from the parent plant.
  2. Proper lawn care: One of the most effective ways to prevent and control any weed is through proper lawn care. Healthy, well-maintained lawns are more resistant to weed infestations. 
  3. Hand-pulling and hoeing: For small infestations, hand-pulling Chamberbitter weeds can be an effective control method. Ensure that you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. Keep in mind that Chamberbitter is known for its long taproot. For larger infestations, using a hoe or a specialized weeding tool can help you remove the weeds more efficiently.
  4. Pre-emergent herbicides: Using a pre-emergent herbicide can be an effective strategy to prevent Chamberbitter seeds from germinating. Apply the herbicide in early spring before the weeds emerge, following the manufacturer’s instructions. For centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass lawns, Atrazine 4L offers effective preemergence control. Isoxaben is another product that offers effective preemergence control. Isoxaben is purchased in granular form and needs to be watered-in to allow it to coat the soil.
  5. Post-emergent herbicides: If Chamberbitter weeds have already emerged in your lawn, using a post-emergent herbicide can help control the infestation. If you already applied Atrazine 4L as your preemergent you can take advantage of its post-emergent activity for any seedlings that may have germinated.  3-Way Max and Triad Select are two popular selective herbicides that also offer post-emergent control. However, Celsius WG along with a surfactant like Opterra 90 Spreader/Activator (to help the herbicide stick to the weeds) is what most turf professionals prefer and recommend. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying herbicides to avoid damaging your lawn or the environment.
  6. Landscape beds: For Chamberbitter control in landscape beds there’s no better choice than products with glyphosate.  Eraser Max and Gly Pho-Sel Pro 41% are both safe options as long as care is taken to prevent drift to non-target plants. Glyphosate can potentially damage any plant through contact so be sure to keep your spray nozzle close to the ground and utilize a cardboard or plastic shield when spraying. Always read the label and carefully follow the directions when applying pesticides.
  7. Mulching: In garden beds and around trees and shrubs, applying a layer of organic mulch can help suppress Chamberbitter weed growth by blocking sunlight and preventing seed germination. A 2-4 inch layer of mulch will also help retain soil moisture and improve soil health, benefiting your plants.

Chamberbitter weeds can be a formidable opponent, but with persistence and the right techniques, you can reclaim your beautiful lawn. By maintaining proper lawn care practices, manually removing weeds, and using pre- and post-emergent herbicides when needed, you can effectively control and prevent Chamberbitter infestations. 

Using Biostimulants for a Faster Spring Green-Up

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Biostimulants derived from seaweed extracts, such as those from brown seaweeds like Ascophyllum nodosum, can provide a range of benefits to turf and ornamental plants. These extracts contain a variety of bioactive compounds, including hormones, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients. When applied to plants, they can enhance growth, stress tolerance, and overall health. They can also play an important role in speeding up your lawn’s green-up time. Root Boost Organic Turf and Plant Supplement is the perfect biostimulant addition to any lawn or ornamental garden.

Here are several ways Root Boost can help:

1. Enhanced root development: Seaweed extracts can stimulate root growth, which can lead to improved nutrient uptake and water absorption. That’s why we named it Root Boost! A healthy root system enables your grass to access the resources it needs to green up quickly.

2. Improved nutrient uptake and assimilation: Root Boost can increase the availability and uptake of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This improved nutrient uptake can support faster and more vigorous growth, leading to a greener lawn in the spring.

3. Boosted chlorophyll production and photosynthesis: Root Boost can enhance chlorophyll production in grass, which in turn improves the efficiency of photosynthesis. Increased photosynthesis can lead to faster growth and a greener lawn.

4. Enhanced stress tolerance: Root Boost can help grass better cope with various environmental stressors, such as temperature fluctuations and frost during early spring. By increasing the grass’s stress tolerance, seaweed extracts can promote a more rapid green-up.

5. Activation of soil microbes: Root Boost can stimulate the activity of beneficial soil microbes that help release nutrients and promote healthy root growth. This can contribute to a healthier, greener lawn in the spring.

Agricultural scientist measuring out Root Boost for evaluation.

Root Boost, like all seaweed derived biostimulants, is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers and growth regulators, reducing the need for chemicals in plant management. Overall, Root Boost can contribute to healthier, more resilient turf and ornamental plants, and can help reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.