Spraying fruit trees and bushes with dormant oil

There are a multitude of ways of killing bugs and insects and such in our gardens and on our fruit trees or bushes. One way is to use an insecticide that kills the bug or insect on contact or when the insect eats the insecticide. Another way is to spray the bug or insect with some type of oil spray that, in effect, smothers the little critters. Last summer I used a mineral oil spray on my tomatoes for aphids and worms and had amazing results. During the winter is a perfect time to spray your fruit trees and bushes with a dormant oil spray. This dormant oil spray will be effective on whitefly larvae and spider mites as well as a number of other critters.

There are several things that are necessary. The temperature has to be between 45 to 65 degrees or so on the day you spray. But the temperature for the next few days till the oil spray can dry has to stay above freezing. So you are going to need four days or so of above-freezing temps with no rain. These dormant oil sprays also need to be done before the tree or bush begins to bud out. In our region, which is Zone 6a, this can be late January or February and maybe even into March. Remember that the temp has to be above freezing for three or four days and no rain.

You can mix your own spray from scratch but, honestly, it's easier to simply buy some at your local garden center or even local hardware store. Read the instructions on the bottle carefully and follow those instructions to the letter. I recommend wearing some type of breathing mask, flip up face shield, rubber gloves, long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Pick a day with little or no wind. I use a pump-up sprayer and an electric sprayer rig on the back of my four wheeler. Be sure you don't have the wrong chemicals in your spray rig like Roundup or 2 4 D or such.

The instructions will call for so many tablespoons per gallon. Follow the instructions. My pump-up sprayer holds three gallons and my electric sprayer holds 15 gallons. I normally put some water in the sprayer, just water, and make sure it works. Once I know it works, I fill it about half full, add the chemical or oil and then finish filling. It is a smart idea to wear the face shield and rubber gloves when filling your sprayer.

When you spray your fruit trees or berries, make sure you get spray on as much of the surface area as you possibly can. The spray has to contact the little buggers to smother and kill them. If I had to choose between spraying your fruit trees or berries or pruning them I'd go with the spray if the weather will cooperate. You can prune almost anytime.

Once you have sprayed your trees or bushes with dormant oil, begin planning on spraying them with a good fruit tree spray once they begin to bud out this spring. All the experts say to spray weekly no matter what. You can find the spray at your local garden supply center or hardware store. If they don't have it, I'll bet they can get it. Check out some of the online stores. Sales tax here in Missouri can be upward of 6 to 9 percent, which will pay for shipping if you buy quite a bit of spray. Check out the local suppliers first, though.

If you need more info, drop me an email. The garden centers will be more than willing and able to help as well. Or Google it. Or call your local county extension office.

Until next time.