It is also important to consider the impact on beneficial insects. Applying the spray directly to the fruit trees minimizes this collateral damage.
Dormant Oil Spray Fruit Tree Winter Protection
It is also wise to check the forecast, ensuring no rain or freezing temperatures are expected for at least 24 hours after application to allow the treatment to set properly. Soft-bodied insects are highly susceptible to the suffocating effects of the oil.
Furthermore, the oil dissolves the protective wax coatings of insect eggs and mite eggs, causing them to dehydrate and die before they can hatch. Dormant oil targets overwintering pests, but it can also affect ladybugs, lacewings, and other helpful bugs if applied to their hibernation sites, such as leaf litter or stone walls near the orchard.
Dormant Oil Spray Fruit Tree Winter Protection
The key to effectiveness is coverage. It then suffocates overwintering insects—such as scale insects, spider mites, and aphids—by blocking their respiratory pores.
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