A couple years ago, I got chigger bites really bad after walking around my backyard for just 10 minutes or so. If you’ve never had them… Let me tell you they itch worse than anything on the planet and it lasts for several days. I had to go to the doc, got a shot of cortisone and a pill pack of steroids. I was still misurable.
All my life I was the one that the mosquitos chose over everyone else. Chiggers, same way. And chiggers are exponentially worse than mosquitos! Anyway… Ever since that really bad attack, I avoid my grass like the plague. All seasons. I’m in Texas so it’s warm enough here for me to worry even in winter.
I’ve been advised that the only way to kill them is to treat the yard as if it’s a flea infestation. I really hate to do that. Do any of you know of something more organic? I know gardeners can buy ladybugs to eat afids. I’m wondering what would eat chiggers? Only thing I can think of are spiders. 1) I don’t know where I could buy a box of spiders. 2). Do I really want a yard full of fat and happy spiders?
I feel silly about being so scared of these things. I don’t even know if they’re still there, but I’m not taking any chances! Meanwhile, it’s sunny and nice during the day, my roses are blooming, and I feel like a prisoner.
