Using dormant oils on Christmas trees
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Editor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is included
Dormant oil can be useful in controlling the over-wintering forms of
some Christmas tree pests – such as adelgids, aphids, scales and spider
mite eggs. Dormant oils work by killing the insects by smothering and
suffocating them. These sprays help to reduce the number of insects that
survive the winter. In addition, they have little, if any, impact on
natural enemies.
To avoid injuring your plants and obtain good control, you must apply
your oil at the proper time and rate. Here are some tips to successfully
use dormant oils.
- Proper timing. Oil must be applied when plants are dormant before buds begin to swell.
- Watch the temperature.
Temperatures must be above 40°F and below 85°F. Avoid application when
temperatures are expected to drop below 32°F over the next several days,
and even when daytime temperatures have warmed to above freezing after a
cold night, make sure that melted frost has evaporated before making an
application.
- Be careful with sensitive tree species.
Spruce and Douglas-fir may be sensitive to the oils, even when applied
at the proper time. Be aware that oils can discolor many conifers that
have a bluish, waxy coating on their needles. New, unsprayed growth will
again have the blue coloration.
- Good coverage. Thorough coverage of the plant is necessary for good control.
- Keep your spray tank agitated.
Oil and water tend to separate, even with the emulsifiers added to
horticultural oil products. Inadequate agitation may result in
deposition of concentrated oil on needles, which is likely to cause
burning.
- Read the label. Always read and follow label directions for safe use of any pesticide.
