You're Attracting Chiggers To Your Yard With This Common Landscaping Mistake

Nothing can ruin a beautiful day outside quite like getting bit by insects and other pests. Chiggers, which are mites in the Trombiculidae family, are actually a type of arachnid, not insect, but that doesn't make their bites any less annoying. In the United States, chiggers don't spread disease, though that is not the case everywhere. While it may seem like a mystery why these little pests have suddenly taken over your yard, the answer likely lies, at least in part, in your landscaping. If your grass hasn't been maintained and your yard has become a bit overgrown, especially during humid summer months, you could be creating the perfect location for these mites.

Adult chiggers live in soil and leaf litter, and it's only those in the larval stage that venture out into overgrown vegetation to search for hosts. While humans aren't chiggers' preferred host, they will hitch a ride and a snack from people who brush against plants that they are infesting. Despite the common myth, chiggers do not burrow into people's skin. Instead, they cut open a small hole and insert their digestive enzymes to snack on your skin cells. To stop the vicious life cycle of chiggers in your yard, it's essential to keep your soil humidity levels low and keep your grass and vegetation well-maintained, especially on or next to paths and areas where people often walk. Additionally, chiggers are often found in areas with a lot of rodents, as these are one of their preferred hosts, so keeping these critters out of your yard can also help improve chigger problems.

Because chiggers are partial to moist and humid environments and long grass, the best way you can prevent chiggers from making your yard an itchy nightmare is by keeping your grass well-maintained and preventing your yard from being overly wet. Making sure to mow your lawn before it reaches 4 inches in height doesn't just help prevent pests, it also keeps your lawn healthier. Grass that is healthy often requires less additional water as well, which not only saves money and resources, but also results in fewer chiggers thanks to the drier soil. 

Chiggers aren't just attracted to long grass; they also love overgrown shrubs like blackberry bushes. Placing plants that form brambles away from paths may decrease the chance of these pests bugging you. You can also opt to place plants with a reputation for repelling chiggers close to your walkways and paths. While it may be tempting to jump to treating your yard with pesticides, they aren't generally recommended for use against chiggers.