You put a lot of time and effort into keeping your garden healthy. While gardens are great to have, they can also become a home for several pests including millipedes. Some gardens are more likely to attract these pests than others. We’ve made a list of things that could be attracting millipedes to your garden.
Moisture
Just like your plants, millipedes need moisture to survive. If they don’t have enough water, they’ll dry out. Between watering your plants and rainfall, moisture build-up is common in gardens. This makes them the perfect spot for millipedes to visit.
Places Millipedes Find Moisture:
- Wet Mulch
- Damp Soil
- Fallen Leaves
- Stem, Root, & Leaves of Plants
- Flowerpots
- Gutters
Food
Millipedes usually feed on decaying plant matter, which can be easily found in your garden. It’s important to keep your garden and yard free of debris that could attract these pests.
Common Sources of Food:
- Decaying Leaves
- Damp & Rotting Wood
- Grass Clippings
- Rotting Fruit & Vegetables
- Dead Insects
Shelter
Many of the things millipedes eat can also act as a source of shelter. Millipedes prefer to live in shaded and undisturbed areas including yard debris and plant material.
Common Sources of Shelter:
- Mulch
- Leaves
- Flowerpots
- Rocks
- Grass Clippings
- Woodpiles
Are Millipedes Harmful to Gardens?
Having millipedes in your garden isn’t always a bad thing. They break down dead plant materials, which is helpful to the environment. They typically don’t feed on garden plants. However, millipedes become a problem when their numbers aren’t controlled. If their food or water supply runs out, they will start eating the leaves, stems, and roots of living plants. They’re also known to migrate indoors when environmental conditions are no longer suitable.
Tips to Prevent Millipede Infestations
One or two millipedes isn’t usually a problem, but an infestation is another story. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to prevent an infestation. Here are a few tips to keep these pests away.
- Don’t Overwater Plants
- Water Lawn & Garden in the Morning
- Fix Leaky Pipes
- Ensure Gutters are in Good Condition
- Remove Yard Debris
- Keep Grass Trimmed
- Store Firewood Off of the Ground
How to Get Rid of Millipedes
Your garden may be the perfect home for millipedes, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them move in. Check out how you can get rid of these pests.
- Eliminate Moisture: To keep your garden healthy, you won’t be able to remove all moisture. However, you can eliminate excess water. Make sure you aren’t overwatering your plants, and eliminate any sources of standing water.
- Create a Protective Barrier: Spraying the perimeter of your yard and garden with a plant-based insecticide spray can help keep millipedes away. Our Yard Bug Spray kills pests on contact while also providing you with residual repellency. This will act as a barrier that helps to deter millipedes and other pests from invading your yard and garden.
While millipedes can be beneficial to your garden, it’s important to make sure their numbers don’t get out of control. Minimizing their access to moisture, food, and shelter will help to keep millipedes from taking over your garden. If bugs are giving you a fit, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.