I’ve never used any dormant oil on my fruit trees but the nursery says I need to. I have some small holes on lower bark of plum tree. Planted last year. Anyone have experience with this? Zone 8a
I guess you apply it to your tree when it is between something like 30 or 40 to 80 out. You use it just in case there is overwintering pests. I guess there is different ways to apply. I got the all seasons dormant spray from my nursery which is to be applied by spraying the bark. There was another one that was a systemic fertilizer for the trees you do not eat.
Where ere are you located? That could answer what insect made holes in your tree.
Spraying dormant oil is a good preventative measure. In your case I don’t know if it would help if those insects are inside your tree. Anyway, in general, spraying dormant oil on fruit trees is a good practice. Spray it when your tree is dormant and temp is not below 40 F.
I will let Ruth explain.
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I’ve only used dormant oil a few times over several years when I had some scale insect issues and it seemed to help. Agree with mamuang, it probably won’t help with the holes you have into the bark. That would likely indicate insect borers, I couldn’t say what species. They really like stressed trees (such as recently planted, older trees lacking vigor, drought stressed trees etc) and can be quite a challenge. Keeping tree health and vigor up makes a big difference in both in reducing attack, and helping the tree respond to attack and survive. Insecticide sprays could possibly help if determined to go that route, but can be difficult to time most of the currently labelled products appropriately and often used after the fact - they won’t kill borers inside the tree.
I am in north Texas. We have lots of pests! I have a small amount of clear sap (1/2 tsp) that leaked from lower trunk. Now it’s hard. Would this indicate a borer? Plum trees planted 2020 in early spring. Irrigated. Help!
If they are borers, the holes often are at a grounds and there is frass mixed in with sap.
Peach or plums trees can ooze sap when they sustain injury (from insects or diseases). If you can post pics, people will have better ideas what it could be.
One of common diseases of stone fruit is canker.
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All the commercial orchards in my area spray dormant oil in April (SE WI). I did too when I worked at a commercial orchard years ago. With my 22 tree hobby orchard I did apply for a while but have not in many years. The main issue oil is sprayed around here is for control of overwintering mites. The oil covers the mite eggs and smothers them. Since I have never had mite issues I stopped applying dormant oil. It was one less spray to do and very messy to get it washed off my spray suit and goggles. If I have a bad case of mites then I will apply the following year in April when the temps are warm enough.
Not sure of the situation where you live so perhaps dormant oil application would be a benefit. If you do spray oil just remember you have to wait a while before applying Captan (2 weeks) for early scab protection on apples as oil and Captan mixing is not good (assuming you grow any apples). That was my biggest issue as I would apply oil late April and then have to wait on spraying Captan for primary scab prevention if my trees leafed out 1/4" or more already by early May. Early Captan sprays on plum trees not good either as it can russet up the young plums badly. Just a warning on using any Captan fungicide soon after using dormant oil.
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My Plum trees usually get infested by Curly Leaf Aphids,starting in the Spring.I have done dormant sprays,with different concoctions,like Soybean,Canola and Neem oils,which helped but they were persistent.
Has anyone tried JMS Stylet Oil?Jose from Spain,wrote that he uses a paraffinic oil,which this is.
I use dormant oil mainly for mite, scales and pear psylla. I am happy that dormant oil also smothers eggs that insects laid on bark of my fruit trees. To me, it is helpful spray.
@Bradybb - don’t know about that but look forward to hear from others.
I was looking around online and found this recipe for an insecticide.One of the choices for ingredients is white mineral oil,which is basically paraffinic.Then a little more searching,a food grade version was found,which costs about 2-3 times less than JMS.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/white-oil-insecticide.htm