Dormant Oil as an Eco-Friendly Pesticide

A dormant oil is a horticulture oil that kills insects by blocking out the holes through which they breathe, or interfering with metabolism or the ability to feed. Dormant oils are usually applied as a natural pesticide to woody plants during the dormant season.

The most eco-friendly dormant oil to use as a pest deterrant is vegetable oil, which takes oils from cottonseed, rapeseed, soybeans, etc. Dormant oils rid plants of insects such as scales, aphids, mites, caterpillars, and eliminate some diseases such as powdery mildew.

When to apply dormant oil to your plants?

Apply dormant oil products right before the leaves or flowers of your plants begin to bud -- typically around January to February in a climate such as ours here in San Diego. For example, you would apply the oils to roses during February.

How to apply dormant oils to your plants:

Thoroughly coat the plants with the dormant oil spray so as to cover as many existing insects as possible.

When applying the spray:

• Do NOT apply to wet plants.

• Do NOT apply when young shoots are growing.

• Do NOT apply in high temperatures (over 100 degrees).

• Do NOT apply in freezing temperatures.

• Do NOT apply until AFTER the plants have become dormant.

• Do NOT mix dormant oil with any products containing sulfur.

• Be careful when spraying near lawns or oil sensitive flowers.

Try to avoid misusing dormant oils. Misuse might include spraying after the plant has already budded, or using an improper oil for certain plants. This can result in damage to your plants.

Maples, red buds, hickories, and walnut trees are all susceptible and should not be coated with dormant oil. Also, evergreens and some citrus trees must be treated with caution when using these products.

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