Late Winter Dormant Spray to Control Pests and Diseases

"When An Ounce of Prevention is Truly Worth a Pound of Cure”

Many bugs and diseases overwinter on fruit trees and shrubs.  Horticultural oil and liquid lime sulphur combined deliver a one-two knock out punch to overwintering insects and diseases on fruit trees, shrubs and ornamentals.  Our GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY KIT SKU # 735-6150 is a naturally based product, and a great tool in the hands of organic gardeners who want to prepare their fruit trees for a healthy start to the growing season.  It is part of the going green movement.

The Green Earth Dormant Spray Kit consists of two products:

1. Horticultural oil which is designed to kill overwintering insects, insect eggs and some caterpillars.
2. Lime sulphur which is particularly effective in controlling fungal diseases such as blister and rust mites, pear scale, red mite eggs, aphid eggs, twig borers, powdery mildew, apple scab, pear rust, plum black knot and peach leaf curl. It’s also great for controlling black spot on roses.

Timing is Crucial  Pay careful attention to timing and apply dormant oil/lime sulphur BEFORE bud break--before vegetative or flowering buds begin to sprout.  Choose a dry, frost free day when temperatures will go above freezing for 24-48 hours.  If possible, spray in the morning so that your trees will have ample time to dry before night or any freezing temperatures.  Avoid spraying on a windy day.

Mixing your Spray As with any product, take the time to carefully read the label and product information guide which explains how to use the product and the mixing ratios.  Mixing ratios will vary according to the targeted plants, purpose and timing.   To use our GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY KIT SKU # 735-6150 at this time of the year, mix 120 ml. (8 tablespoons) of lime sulphur concentrate and 60 ml. (4 tablespoons) of horticultural oil in 3 litres of water.

Applying Dormant Spray  Hand pump pressure sprayers, battery pack sprayers or hose end sprayers can be used (see Whiffletree’s line of sprayers pg. 79-80).  To be effective, thoroughly spray your trees, even to the point of dripping wet!  The horticultural oil must contact overwintering insects and eggs which may be hiding in bark ridges, crevices and branch crotches.  The oil covers the surface of the insect eggs, larvae or shells and suffocates them.  Avoid spraying when windy.   When trees are dormant, GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY can be safely used on all your fruit trees.

Be Safe  The GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY KIT is easy to use and, as a naturally based product, it is considered organic.  However, do not underestimate it’s potency and follow all recommended precautions.  Wear chemical resistant gloves, long sleeved shirt, long pants, eye protection and avoid all contact with skin (be careful about wind and spray drift).  Wash face and hands after use.  Mix only the amount  of spray that you can use at a given time since after mixing with water, the spray doesn’t have a long shelf life.  Because lime sulphur stains painted wood, brick, stone and concrete, cover such items before spraying nearby.

Pollinator Friendly Applying these sprays before your fruit tress and shrubs break dormancy avoids harming honey bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects which are not yet active.

Peach Leaf Curl Some common fungal diseases can only be controlled PREVENTIVELY.  Peach leaf curl is a very common fungal disease that can defoliate, weaken and, eventually, kill peach and nectarine trees. Since the fungus overwinters on the bark and in the bud scales, the optimal time to spray is in the spring before leaf break or, at the latest, just before they bloom.  Both lime sulphur and copper are organic fungicides which can be used to control peach leaf curl.  All who plant peach and nectarine trees should consider using one of these products to control peach leaf curl.

See # 3 below Copper Spray.

See the following website for more information on Peach Leaf Curl.

https://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/IPM/english/tender/diseases-and-disorders/peachleafcurl.html#advanced

1. GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY KIT mixing formulas:

2. Superior Dormant Oil & Sulphur Spray Kit 500mL/1-L is another excellent product, very similar to GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY KIT. It is readily available at your local hardware and big box stores.   Use the same mixing ratios as the GREEN EARTH DORMANT SPRAY KIT - mix 120 ml. (8 tablespoons) of lime sulphur concentrate and 60 ml. (4 tablespoons) of horticultural oil in 3 litres of water.

3. COPPER SPRAY 500 GRAMS WATER SOLUBLE CONCENTRATE SKU 735-4500 pg. 80. is an effective organic fungicide for various diseases.