How to Control Spruce Tree Problems With Spruce Spider Mites
If the needles on your spruce tree have taken on a strange mottled appearance, the culprit could be a small insect relatively known as the spruce spider mite. These little eight-legged terrors suck important fluids from the needles of your spruce tree, causing the needles to look mottled, yellow and finally brown as the feeding progresses. Because infestations of spruce spider mites can lead to the death of your spruce tree, the sooner you take action to control the infestation, the better. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White sheet of paper
- Live ladybugs
- Garden hose with spray attachment or power washer
- Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray
Instructions
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Check your spruce tree for spruce spider mites by holding a white sheet of paper under a branch and tapping the branch lightly. Examine the small particles that fell onto the sheet of paper; spruce spider mites will look like slow-moving black or grayish-green spots against the white paper.
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Treat very mild spruce spider mite infestations in your spruce tree organically by releasing the mites' most feared predator, the ladybug, near your infested spruce tree. Purchase live ladybugs from your local home and garden store or from a reputable online merchant.
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Control mild to moderate spruce spider mite infestations by hosing down your spruce tree with a power washer or a garden hose with a spray attachment at least twice a week to wash the spider mites off the tree branches and needles.
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Treat moderate to severe infestations of spruce spider mites with a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray product. Apply the horticultural oil or insecticidal soap product according to package directions.
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Help prevent future infestations of spruce spider mites in your spruce trees by keeping your trees well-watered during dry spells. According to the Penn State Cooperative Extension, spider mites are more likely to infest spruce trees that are suffering from drought stress. Provide your spruce tree with at least an inch of water each week in the absence of rain.
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Tips & Warnings
Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap products can be purchased from your local nursery or garden center under the brand names Ultra-Fine, M-Pede, Sunspray, Safer's and many others.
Avoid the frequent use of horticultural oil or insecticidal soap products as they may be detrimental to the beneficial mites and insects on your spruce tree.
Always take proper safety precautions when working with chemical insecticide products.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit spruce image by Tatuana Badokina from Fotolia.com
