Spider mites

As the hot summer months are approaching so are troublesome Spider Mites. Spider Mites are very small, about the size of a grain of pepper. There are many varieties of Mites. Some attack Evergreens, while others will attack deciduous trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. One of the most dreaded are the Spruce Spider Mite. They will attack over 40 species of conifers.

Spider Mites prefer the hot, dry weather of the summer months. They can grow from egg to adult very quickly and they lay many dozen eggs before their life cycle is over. This allows the Mites to do a lot of damage to a tree in a short amount of time. These eggs will winter over on the plant and emerge the following year. Spider Mites are an insect, that will pierce the tree with its mouth and literally suck the life out of the tree.

Spider Mites are hard to detect because of their size. There are two relatively easy ways to find them, however. Spider Mites create a webbing at the bottom of needles and branches. It is most easily detected in the morning when there is dew on the plant. The second way is to take a white piece of paper or paper plate, stick it under the branches and shake the branch. If there are Mites, they will appear as brown specks on the paper.

It is important to check susceptible plants during the summer months when Mites are most active. They are easiest to control when caught early. Spider Mites will often return to the same plant year after year. A good Preventative Maintenance Program is a good choice for controlling these insects.

The most effective and non-toxic way to control them is by spraying a Horticultural Oil on them. Horticultural Oil comes in two forms. A Dormant Oil is sprayed from late fall to the early spring months when the plant is dormant and kills any over wintering eggs. During the summer months an All Seasons Horticultural Oil can be sprayed to kill active Mites. Bonide has an Oil that works wonders on Mites and many other insects, is safe and pleasant to use. Bonide also has a Certified Organic product called Bio-Neem. This is great if you have an infestation in your garden, as it can be applied up to the day of harvest.

If you want to protect your plants, shrubs and trees, spray Dormant Oil every winter season to kill all sorts of over-wintering insects, especially the Spider Mite. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.