Battle of the Bugs: Winning the War Against Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers can be sneaky little b*tches, chomping away on your plants like uninvited guests at a buffet. They’re so hard to control since they are incredibly mobile. And here in Colorado, we have over 100 types of stupid green hoppers.
Let’s talk about how we can take back control of our gardens, and get rid of the grasshoppers!
In this blog, you’ll learn:
Grasshopper Damage in Your Garden
How Weather Influences Grasshopper Invasion
How to Take Down Grasshoppers
Attracting Natural Predators to Your Garden
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Spotting Grasshopper damage in Your Denver garden
Their damage looks similar to damage caused by beetles and slugs, with large bites taken out of leaves. These critters are highly mobile, and their populations can skyrocket from early summer until the first hard frosts.
They love munching on veggies like lettuce, carrots, beans, sweet corn, and onions, but tend to avoid squash, peas, and tomatoes (maybe not so much this year though).
In outbreak years like this year, even trees and shrubs aren’t safe from their gnawing ways.
READ NEXT:
Weather: The Ultimate Grasshopper Influencer in Colorado
But why are the grasshoppers especially abundant this year? Weather plays a crucial role in grasshopper survival.
Cold, wet weather is disastrous for newly hatched grasshoppers, while very dry winter and spring conditions can also be harmful due to the lack of tender new plant growth. Thinking back we had a VERY mild winter followed by a pretty warm, wet spring - the perfect conditions for grasshopper babies.
How to Take Down Grasshoppers in your Colorado backyard garden
NOLO bait: NOLO bait is “flaky wheat bran coated with Nosema locustae spores”, a biological control that specifically targets grasshoppers, making it a great choice for eco-friendly pest control.
Flour Method: Flour can deter grasshoppers by clogging their wings. Just use all-purpose flour without added ingredients, sprinkle a light coating on affected leaves and watch the magic happen! The flour gums up the grasshoppers wings and mouths causing them to starve and die - sorry grasshoppers!
Diatomaceous Earth: This natural product, made of crushed diatom shells, feels like broken glass to insects, causing dehydration and death. Spread a thin layer on the leaves of affected plants and reapply after rain. It’s safe for humans, but wear a dust mask and eye protection to avoid inhalation. The big drawback with DE is that it is harmful to bees so make sure not to sprinkle any on or near flowers.
READ NEXT:
Natural Predators: Grasshopper’s Worst Nightmares in Denver, Colorado
Grasshoppers have plenty of natural enemies to worry about. Blister beetles, robber flies, birds and even coyotes eat grasshoppers. Planting a native landscape helps attract birds to your garden to eat the damaging pests. (Who can forget that bird eating Hopper in A Bug's Life???)
By understanding grasshopper behavior, their impact on your plants, and using these effective control methods, you can reclaim your garden from these pesky invaders. Get ready to win the war against grasshoppers and enjoy a healthier, more productive garden!
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Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
