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Spider MitesGetting rid of one garden variety invader can be a blast. |
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Transcript: Spider Mites
Spider mites can be a real problem for many of our landscape plants in the summer. They like a dry, dusty leaf surface and really thrive in our Texas heat.You’ll see their damage showing up as little stippled white to yellow areas on top of the leaf or even bronzing of the leaves. They cluster under the leaves and feed by sucking the juices out of the foliage. They can even leave some webbing behind, which is where they get their name spider mites.
They’re easy to control, however. A blast of water applied upward from under the leaf surface will dislodge them from the leaf and it also creates a wet environment so it’s difficult for them to thrive and grow.
You can even angle them toward that neighbor your not really fond of to send the mites over in their direction. Actually, when the mites land, they won’t be in any condition to do any damage.
If you do this about once a week, it will keep them well under control.
There are also a couple of low-tox sprays that work very well against mites. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oil, if directed upward from underneath the leaves, will coat the surface of their bodies and cause disruption and death of the mites. You need to do this periodically. If you choose an oil, choose horticultural or summer oil and not dormant oil because dormant oil can burn your plants.
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Last Updated:
July 6, 2006