The Different Types Of Spiderwebs And What To Do About Them
Walking into a spiderweb is a specific kind of surprise. You're out in the garden enjoying the fresh morning air, then you feel that sticky silk across your face. It is a common experience for anyone who loves the outdoors, and while our first instinct might be panic or annoyance, it is helpful to understand what we're walking into. Spiders are master architects, and knowing what they are building can help us manage our gardens better.
The Classic Orb Web
These are the beautiful wheel-shaped webs we see in cartoons and Halloween decorations, usually built by the common garden spider. You'll often find them suspended between tall plants, porch columns, or fence posts. The spider sits right in the middle or waits nearby for a vibration signaling a catch. These webs are incredibly sticky and designed to catch flying insects like flies. They're masterpieces of engineering, but they are also frequently built right at face level.
Handling Orb Weavers
If an orb web is blocking a main path, you don't need to destroy it aggressively. These spiders are generally harmless and eat many pests, so they're actually beneficial to keep around. The kindest approach involves a simple stick. Gently break the anchoring threads and wind the web around the stick, then move the spider to a shrub off the beaten path. They'll rebuild quickly in a safer spot. This keeps the path clear for you and the garden safe from pests.
Tangle Webs Or Cobwebs
We often associate these messier clumps of web with haunted houses or neglected corners of the home. These are technically called tangle webs. They lack the symmetry of the orb web and look chaotic or shapeless. You'll find them in the corners of your porch, basement, garage, or tucked under patio furniture. The spiders that build these are often trying to stay out of sight. They're waiting for crawling insects to get stuck in their jumbled, three-dimensional traps.
Clearing The Clutter
Tangle webs tend to collect dust and debris very quickly, which makes them look dirtier than other webs. The best way to handle these is regular maintenance. A broom with a long handle works wonders here, as you can simply sweep them away during your weekly cleanup. If the web is in a tricky spot, a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment is even more effective. If you stay on top of it, the spiders will eventually move to a less disturbed location.
Funnel Weavers In The Grass
Look down at your lawn early in the morning when the dew is heavy and you might see what looks like a flat sheet of silk with a tunnel at one end. These are called funnel webs. The spider hides in the narrow end of the funnel, and when an insect walks across the sheet, the spider rushes out to grab it. These webs are very common in dense ground cover, thick grass, or around the base of stone walls.
Managing Ground Spiders
These webs rarely get in your way since they are low to the ground, and they're actually excellent for controlling beetles and other ground-dwelling pests. You usually don't need to do anything about them. If you feel there are too many, simply trimming back the vegetation will encourage them to leave. Opening up the space and letting in more sunlight makes the area less appealing for these shy creatures. You can also rinse them away with a hose if needed.
Sheet Webs Between Branches
You might notice flat layers of silk stretched between the branches of your shrubs or even trees, ones that look like hammocks or dense mats. Unlike the sticky orb webs, these capture prey by knocking them down. A flying insect hits the threads and falls into the sheet where the spider captures it. They're generally harmless to the plant itself, though they may look a bit messy to the neat gardener or if they cover a whole bush.
When it comes to living among spiders, the goal should be balance rather than total elimination. Spiders are a sign of a healthy ecosystem! They're eating the aphids and mosquitoes that you surely dislike. Try to tolerate them in the corners of the yard where you don't walk often. If they're in high traffic areas, then move them, but if they're out of the way, let them work. They're free pest control that works twenty-four hours a day all season long.