Dormant Oil Application

Dormant Oil Application

Dormant oil applications to trees and shrubs can be a quite effective tool when managing many of our insect and disease problems.

The application is done once a year during the dormant season. In our area this is roughly January through Mid March. Many times Dormant Oil applications are used in conjunction with other foliar sprays, such as fungicide sprays for the management of fungal leaf diseases. The Oil helps reduce the levels of pathogenic fungi that can "over winter" (survive) in bark fissures and leaf scales or unopened buds. The Oil alone does not provide control, additional spray applications with an approved fungicide will need to be done in the spring after the tree begins to leaf out.

Dormant Oil applications are quite effective against "over wintering" insect pests. Many of our early season pest problems can be reduced with Oil applications. We need to mention again that the Oil alone does not always provide complete management. Additional foliar applications with an approved miticide or insecticide may need to be scheduled for a complete management program.

A particular insect pest that Dormant Oil is especially effective against is the various scale infestations we get in North Texas. If you own Red Oak, Live Oak, Pecan, or Silver Maple, you can find one of the various scale species. Sometimes the level of infestation may not warrant an application. However, this pest can increase in severity quite quickly. Many times it’s best to include Dormant Oil applications as part of an overall health management program. Applications on an annual basis will help to keep scale populations below damaging levels.

The material is a very finely refined oil product, with practically no odor, which acts to suffocate the "over wintering" target pest. It is by far one of the safest products used in pest management.

Many times you may find us recommending the Dormant Oil application to include your shrubs. For example, there are a variety of scale problems which Oil applications can reduce, especially on Holly sp. 

NOTE: If you own a swimming pool and we are applying Dormant Oil to trees and or shrubs near the pool, you may experience a cloudy look to the pool when we are done. This phenomenon is temporary and does not damage the pool or filter. It will dissipate in 24 – 48 hours. It is also completely safe to swim under these conditions as well.