Spraying with paraffin oilis recommended at the end of winter and early spring to destroy wintering pest forms on fruit trees and conifers. But these are not the only plants worth spraying with paraffin oil. Seehow and when exactly to sprayparaffin oil for the most benefit. We provide deadlines and recommendations foroil spraying in the garden !
Spraying paraffin oil on fruit trees
Fig. depositphotos.com
How does paraffin oil spraying work?
Spraying paraffin oil allows you to combat pests wintering on plants , e.g. in cracks in the bark and various nooks and crannies between branches. Paraffin oil fights eggs, larvae and adults of some pests. The thin coating remaining on the plant after spraying with paraffin oil effectively blocks air from reaching the eggs and the pest larvae hatching from them, which are then suffocated.
What harmful effects are spraying with paraffin oil?
Usingspraying with paraffin oilcombats overwintering pests such as:
- aphids,
- ochojniki,
- spider veins,
- cupcakes.
MoreDetailed examples of a specific pest on a specific plantthat you can relate to uses in your gardens are:
- aphids and fruit spider mite on apple, plum and pear trees, but also on peaches, cherries, apricots, cherries and cherries
- spider mite on spruce trees
- plum bowl on plums and fruit bushes (gooseberry, chokeberry, blueberry, currants, grapevines and hazel)
- yew bowl,
- tujowiec cup on thuja,
- spruce-larch georgette on larch trees,
- and many more …
Symptoms of the presence of gaiters on conifers: (1) galls formed on the shoots, (2) dried galls left by pests, (3) white bloom visible on the needles in summer - this is the reason to spray paraffin oil in the early spring!
Despite such a wide application, we must remember thatparaffin oil spraying will not be effective against all pestsAnd so, for example, in the case of hoppy spider mites, females winter and start to leave their homes in spring winter hideouts and only then lay eggs.If this species of spider mite was present in our garden, it will be necessary to combat it with other spider mites during the growing season.
Which plants should be sprayed with paraffin oil?
Spraying with paraffin oil is recommendedon fruit and deciduous trees and shrubs, as well as on conifers. In principle, all deciduous trees and shrubs losing their foliage for winter and conifers can be sprayed. It is especially recommended to spray apple, pear, plum, hawthorn, euonymus, yew, fir, spruce, larch and pine trees, as these plants are usuallynumerous pests that can be combated with paraffin oil
In practice, it is worth observing the plants in your garden and spraying it, first of all, if we have noticed wintering pests in the form of spider mite eggs, cup larvae, or the so-called. galls on conifers, in which the gorse hides, or if these pests have occurred in our garden in previous years. By spraying with paraffin oil, we will reduce the risk of the reappearance of these pests
However, if we have not noticed any symptoms of pests before, spraying can be abandoned. If such symptoms appear during the growing season,spraying must be done in the next year
In the early spring, paraffin oil helps to combat the wintering stages of bowls. If we saw such larvae as in the photo, you need to spray
Is spraying paraffin oil safe?
Spraying paraffin oil is considered an ecological treatment , safe for people and the environment. The liquid paraffin used for spraying does not pollute the environment and has no adverse effects on living organisms. It may have a minor detrimental effect on water in reservoirs, which, however, is not of major economic importance.
Definitelyparaffin oil spraying at the end of winter and early springis less harmful than spraying with chemical plant protection products during the growing season, when plants, apart from pests, are also numerous useful insects.
Clusters of tiny red balls on the branches of the tree are the eggs of the pangea. Make sure to spray with paraffin oil
Spraying with paraffin oil and beneficial insects
Spraying paraffin oil is considered safe for beneficial insects , although this is not entirely true. When spraying with paraffin oil, we must remember thatit is not selective and is also harmful to beneficial insects , which are natural enemies of the pests we fight.
So why the assumption that spraying paraffin oil is safe for beneficial insects? The vast majority of ladybug larvae, earwigs, or gold-eyed larvae hibernate in leaves on the ground, and sometimes hide in buildings (e.g.gold-eyed, sensitive to frost, often inhabit attics, apartments and cellars). Therefore, spraying plants destroys only a small amount of them.The benefits of highly effective pest control are therefore overwhelming
Dates of paraffin oil spraying
Generally recommendedthe date of spraying with paraffin oilis the period from the end of February to the end of March. However, this is an approximate date, and the exact date of the treatment must be determined on the basis of the rate of plant development in a given year, the behavior of pests and the course of the weather. When deciding onwhen to spray paraffin oil , consider the following recommendations:
- paraffin oil spraying is best done when the pests wake up from winter dormancy and their vital activity increases , e.g. when larvae begin to hatch from winter eggs. During this period, pests begin to breathe intensively and need a lot of air.Meanwhile, the oil preparations then close the spiracles of the eggs and prevent the supply of oxygen to the developing larvae that die,
- the date of spraying with the oil preparation can be determined based on the phenological phasesbased on the observations. For example, in the case of the control of fruit spider mite on apple trees, it was observed in the studies that spraying paraffin oil brings the best results when it is performed in the period from the so-called mouse ear to green flower bud. Depending on the course of the weather, it may be in March but also in April
- paraffin oil spraying is best done during the leafless period or at the beginning of the leaf appearance , because paraffin oil may show phytotoxicity symptoms in the form of brown spots on fully developed leaves,
- paraffin oil should be sprayed on a windless, rainless and sunny day, at temperatures above 5 ° C(preferably at8 ° C or higher). Before spraying, it is also worth checking the weather forecast for the next few days, because the heavy rains and temperature drops below 5 ° C in the following days will significantly reduce the effectiveness of the spraying.
Taking all these factors into account,choosing the right time to spray can be complicatedSo first of all, let's make sure to spray when the weather is right. If we spray too early, when the pests are still dormant and do not need air so intensely, spraying will also be effective, but its effectiveness may be lower. If we spray too late, when the leaves have already developed on the plants, there is a risk of damaging them. In the case of deciduous plants, therefore, I recommendspraying as late as possible at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring, but before the leaves develop
Spraying paraffin oil on the thuja
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
If we are late with spraying, do not reach for paraffin oil or preparations based on itand choose Emulpar 940 EC. It is based on another oil, namely saffron oil. It is an oil obtained from a plant called flax seed. This oil does not cause phytotoxicity symptoms like paraffin oil and can also be used on plants with already developed leaves. That is whyEmulapr 940 EC is recommended for amateur crops in gardens and plots , for people who do not have much experience in spraying.
Recipe for paraffin oil spraying
For spraying plants, you can use pure paraffin oil , in other words, liquid paraffin (Paraffinum liquidum), which you can buy at a pharmacy. To prepare the spray liquidparaffin oil should be diluted with waterAccording to ecological guides, the following proportions should be used: 100 ml of paraffin oil for 5-6 liters of water (preferably rainwater).It should be thoroughly mixed and then sprayed on the plants.
Of course, we can also usecommercially available oil preparations , such as: Prommanal 60 EC, Treol 770 EC and Emulpar 940 EC.
As I mentioned above, I especially recommend Emulpar 940 EC,based not on paraffin oil, but on blackberry oilIt is safer to use by people who do not with gardening experience, and the amount of the preparation not used in the early spring, can also be used during the growing season.
How to spray with paraffin oil?
Remember thatspraying with oil preparations should be done very carefully , also spraying the bottom parts of the twigs and reaching all nooks and crannies where pests most often hide. Enjoy it should thoroughly cover all parts of the plant, even drip down the branches.If the oil starts to drip, it means that we used too much of it.
It is also important todilute the oil preparation exactly in the proportions given on the packaging or label of the preparation usedNo sense give more oil than recommended in the agent's instructions, because then there is a risk of clogging the nozzle in the sprayer.
Cleaning the sprayer after oil spraying
Remember also towash the sprayer of oil residues immediately after sprayingAs oils can be difficult to remove, it is worth using warm water with the addition of garden soap, which will dissolve oil residues better. In this way, it is worth rinsing the lance, nozzle and the inside of the sprayer tank thoroughly.
More proven recipes!
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