Why is dormant oil the safe and effective tool? As leaves begin to change color and homeowners begin to settle in for a long winter, there are still ways in the winter months that we can manage our gardens and landscapes to acquire maximum beauty for the following seasons.
Everyone would like a garden free of voracious insects without the use of harmful pesticides. The use of dormant or horticultural oils fills this void. These oils are highly refined and are a non-toxic alternative to insect control in the garden. These oils, when applied to plants that are in a dormant state, work mainly by smothering insects and their eggs. Dormant oils are commonly applied to fruit trees for control of a variety of pests and can be used on a myriad of landscape plants, such as shade trees, euonymus and pachysandra ground covers which are commonly afflicted with scale or mite problems. The use of dormant oil is a safe and easy way to keep these pest populations in check.
Although dormant oil is considered a safe alternative with relatively little chance of pests acquiring resistance, some precautions should be taken before using. Do not apply dormant oil on a day when temperatures will drop below freezing, as this can injure plant buds and foliage. Conversely, dormant oil can be applied at other times of the year, but should not be applied on hot days as it can cause phytotoxicity on foliage. In addition, it can remove the waxy coating of blue spruces and burn the foliage of some landscape annuals. Always refer to the label before making an application.
In summation, dormant oil is a safe and effective tool to control insect populations and can be applied in the winter months so you can enjoy your garden in other months without worrying about insects getting the best of you.