Monday, November 6, 2017

Spider Mites on Junipers Oct. 31, 2017




October 31, 2017

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

Many species of Juniper can get spider mite damage. Junipers turn yellow or brown and have a lint-like coating on the twigs. Spider mites are very small microscopic eight legged insects that can reproduce rapidly. They are capable of turning one side of a Juniper brown in a couple of weeks. The symptoms are easier to see than the actual insect. 

Spider mites damage the plant by sucking the “sap” from the plant. One way to look for spider mites is by taking a white sheet of paper, hold it under a twig and shake the twig. Small dots will land on the paper and crawl around. 

The first line of defense is the use of water to wash away the mites' protective webbing and to wash many of the mites from the plant. The tree should be sprayed every day. If this is ineffective use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap that are labeled for mites. Make sure to read and follow the directions. Most insecticides will need to be applied every three days until the mites are gone. 

If you would like more information on spider mites please contact the Extension office at 461-0562. We will be hosting a “private applicators workshop” on November 21 at the Tucumcari Convention Center at 8:00am. Call the office to RSVP. This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are programs are open to everyone.

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