Spider infestation and looots of webs everywhere

hannahs1234

Heya,

me again with another issue )

We’re having issues with spiders and webs everywhere in the garden and on the patio. Everywhere!

i removed most of them a week ago, and they’re back. More than before!

i know spiders are good etc, but i’d like to reduce the number of webs and spiders everywhere! Like, i’m ok with some, but they’re everywhere you go or sit.

I suspect it’s because of the huge trees and the ivy we’ve got. See pic:



Lots of places for the crawlies. Lots of them on the decking and patio, too!

 I was thinking of removing them at some point, but I kinda like all the birds nesting in there. So maybe targeting the spider population alone would be a better idea.

not to mention that these tiny crawlers grow into monstrous ‘tarantulas’ that are making me miserable. Found a couple of them in the house and I couldn’t sleep well for a couple of nights afterwards 😭

thanks

Fairygirl

I'm afraid if you're going to garden, you have to accept that all sorts of insects share the space, and the majority are harmless - and often very necessary to keep plants and soil healthy 
Garden spiders are different from house spiders too. 

Liriodendron

And spiders in the garden catch all sorts of other pests which would make your life a misery - like mosquitoes, midges and wasps.  

amancalledgeorge

They're just protesting about all the plastic surrounding them. Maybe if that fake grass and fake climbers were real they'd find a home further away from the pergola? 

Loxley

Could you sweep them out every few days to discourage them?

Buttercupdays

You can't 'target' the spiders and why would you want to? They are the 'good guys' catching flies and midges and other insects. They are an important part of the garden ecosystem and you just have to learn to live with it, you aren't living in a magazine photograph!
They are mostly harmless, even the big ones, though one or two sorts could possibly manage a bite, if they were interfered with, that could cause a reaction in someone with sensitive skin. I don't think I have ever been bitten by a spider though, in over 60 years of gardening. Midges are another matter!
The really big ones with long legs that come in the house in the autumn are the Tegenarias. They are completely harmless, though I sometimes have to remove one from the bath, with a glass and a piece of card, and rehome it to the woodshed. They don't like the cold and seeing them is a sign that winter is near

hannahs1234

amancalledgeorge said:

They're just protesting about all the plastic surrounding them. Maybe if that fake grass and fake climbers were real they'd find a home further away from the pergola? 

Not sure where you saw plastic? Except maybe the artificial grass and some of the flowers. Excuse me for wanting to be able to have at least some flowers to look at all year round. They add to the feel of the place and have their benefits. like they don’t need tending to and there’s much less dirt overall. The whole thing was built by my husband using wood and other materials we’ve reused. We’re trying our best to recycle and minimise waste. And plastic decorations wouldn’t withstand the winds we’re getting here anyway.

I guess our issue is with being able to sit down without having to remove the webs first. Or leaving glasses unattended for half an hour and coming back to a crawlie swimming inside. It was a lot worse before, when the nature and greenery was overwhelming us (the place was literally a jungle when we bought the house). Loads more spiders. I guess building the decking and patio and laying the grass reduced the problem somewhat.

I don’t like spiders, but I’m aware they’re good and serve a purpose.that’s why I wanted to maybe reduce the population somewhat. That should also prevent those huge ones entering our home and scaring the hell out of me. 😭😭

Fairygirl

Had to remove a wee fellow from my shower this morning @Buttercupdays.
I quite like it when they run across the lounge floor. It's oak, and they sound like they have tap shoes on 
Once autumn is here properly, one of life's great joys is those sparkling, frosted or dew covered webs in the morning.

raisingirl

encourage birds. They eat spiders

It sounds facetious, but seriously, what you want to aim for is a little eco-system in balance as near as you can get it, in your garden. Then none of the various creatures end up becoming too numerous and you can largely leave them to all eat each other

TheGreenMan

You have to live with the garden dwellers.  You're basically in their space.  Even your house is built on their ground.

I woke up the other night and went down for a drink of water.  I felt some "food" fall out from between my teeth and thought "That's odd cos I used mouthwash and brushed my teeth before bed". Turns out it was a spider.  I spat it out into the sink and let it get on with it.

Watch Charlotte's Web and you'll perhaps feel differently.

hannahs1234

Fairygirl said:

Had to remove a wee fellow from my shower this morning @Buttercupdays.
I quite like it when they run across the lounge floor. It's oak, and they sound like they have tap shoes on 

You should see the monstrosities on our floors. 3-4cm leg span. I nearly died when I found one inches away from my side of the bed. 😭 I doubt house spiders grow this big, so maybe they’re our fellow, innocent beings from the garden. Still, I hate them. Arachnophobia much.