Mites
Some experts believe mites are the most destructive pest in Colorado. The picture on the top right shows mite damage. The image displayed on the bottom right is located directly across the street from the damaged area and the turf shows no signs of mite activity.
With mites it's all about location. The turf area shown on the top grows on a southwest exposed slope. The turf on the bottom has a north exposure. Because mites do their damage in the winter and early spring they require a warm, dry environment to thrive. Southwest exposed slopes are a prime area for the pest. The severity of the damage is predicated on the steepness of the slope and the precision of the slope focus to the southwest. Mites may also be found in turf adjacent to heat islands such as pine trees, rock beds, retaining walls and foundations depending on the exposure.
The damage to turf caused by mites can range from harassment to total destruction of the lawn. In the picture above there are areas completely destroyed and others with light damage. Mite damage becomes apparent during the springtime green-up period. It is best to prevent mite damage from occurring as the restoration of these areas is a challenge due to the heat and direct sun found on southwest exposed slopes.
We recommend two mite control applications per season; in the early winter and again in the early spring depending on weather factors. For a number of reasons we are prudent with the material application and only spray the turf areas, of the yard, where we believe mites will be a problem. Because mites generally require a very specific habitat for success, only about 17% of our properties require these applications and only specific areas on those properties require treatment. We look for potential mite damage areas when we initially visit a property to estimate services. The homeowner will be advised if we determine the service is required.
