Millipedes Prevention Guide

Millipedes can be a nuisance to have in your yard or home, especially in large quantities.

If you have had a prior millipede infestation, you can take steps to avoid millipedes in the future. Learn about millipede control below.

Millipedes are attracted to damp, soggy areas rich in organic matter. Removing this material as much as possible from your property will make your home inhospitable to millipedes.

To make your lawn less appealing to millipedes:

• Remove any rotting fruit or vegetables from gardens or below fruit trees
• Store firewood off the ground and at least 20 feet away from the home
• Remove leaf piles, grass clippings, compost, and rotting wood from the lawn, as millipedes will harbor in the rotting organic material

Another way to keep millipedes out is to block areas where millipedes enter the home.

• Replace any cut or torn window screens
• Repair any large holes in the foundation, eaves, or siding of your home
• Rake back mulch, pine straw, or pine bark 6 inches away from the foundation of the home
• Use steel or Xcluder cloth in holes where utilities and pipes enter the home

Millipedes are attracted to damp, moist areas. Millipedes will be less likely to live in your lawn if you remove moisture using these tips:

• Water your lawn in the morning so it will be dry by nightfall
• Do not overwater flowerbeds to reduce soggy mulch
• Fix leaking pipes, spouts, sprinklers, and spigots
• Fix drainage issues to avoid spots of pooling water
• Aerate your lawn to assist with drainage problems
• Dethatching your lawn will cut down on moisture and decomposing grass, which attracts millipedes

Pro Tip

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If you have a room in the home that is constantly damp and attractive to millipedes, such as a basement, investing in a dehumidifier may be a smart idea. Dehumidifiers remove the excess moisture from the room, creating a dry environment that millipedes will avoid.

An insecticide will prevent millipedes from entering your home or office. After selecting an insecticide labeled for millipedes, like Tempo SC, mix the insecticide with water in a hand pump sprayer using the ratio on the label.

Then, spray the insecticide-water mixture around the perimeter of your home or structure, 3 feet up and 3 feet out. Spray around door and window frames, and where utilities and pipes enter the home.

Be sure to wear gloves, long sleeves, and closed toe shoes when mixing and applying insecticide.

Watch the video below for more information on how to use insecticide spray.

Insecticide granules can protect your lawn from millipedes for months at a time. Read our guide on how to get rid of millipedes for directions on how to apply an insecticide granule application to your lawn.