Even though it’s winter and the plants are still sleeping, it doesn’t mean pests aren’t still lurking. There are some ways to act now to help prevent insects from feeding on your plants and laying eggs once they awake in spring. Dormant oil applications are formulated to help prevent the pests you don’t want while not effecting the ones you do. Learn more about how and when they’re applied.

What is Dormant Oil?

The term dormant oil tells you what it is and when it’s applied. These mineral oils are best used during the dormant season. You may see it referred to as horticultural oil, which also tells you what it’s used for: plants.

Commercial products are formulated with an emulsifier to help the oil mix with water. This results in more complete coverage of plant surfaces, better protecting it from what could be laying dormant on the leaves: pests.

While these products are toxic to insects, they’re not harmful to pollinators, pets, or the people eating the produce.

How Does it Work?

Dormant oils are used to control pests on the leaves and limbs of fruit trees. It’s applied while the plant is dormant and goes to work suffocating the following insects and eggs:

• Aphids
• Mealybug
• Whiteflies
• Caterpillar eggs
• Leafhoppers
• Scale
• Mites

Since some of these insects are known to pass on disease to the plant, dealing with the pest could also help prevent future problems.

Oils are more effective on young insects, which is why timing the application is important. Early intervention is key to stopping an infestation and damage. There are some oils that can be applied throughout the growing season, but these are more likely to be marketed as all-season or horticultural oil instead of dormant. Application guidelines differ among products, so be sure to use the one recommended for the season you’re in and follow any label instructions.

Professional Dormant Oil Application

For best results, consider calling a professional lawn and pest control company to help ensure proper application. Contact Cardinal Lawns to learn more about our tree and shrub care treatments and to schedule an application at the best time of year.