What is the purpose of applying a dormant oil spray on fruit trees in late winter?
Dormant oils are recommended for application on a warm day in late February to kill overwintering insects (scale, mites, mealy bugs, etc.) on dormant woody species. Combine such oils with a lime sulfur spray to control both insects and disease organisms. Always follow the manufacturers’ recommendations. For more information, go to Missouri Botanical Garden’s Integrated Pest Management or Ronda Anson’s The Beginning Gardener column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
