How To Use Horticultural Oil
Horticultural oils are lightweight oils, these oils can be vegetable or petroleum-based, used in the field of agriculture and horticulture, and are formulated to control mites and insect pests. Horticulture oils are specifically designed and are highly refined petroleum products that are filtered and distilled to remove compounds that can have a negative impact on garden plants. Horticultural oils are among the most effective and safest when controlling a host of chewing and sap-sucking garden insect pests.
Horticultural oil kills insects by way of suffocation. The oil is formulated to block the insect’s spiracles through which they breathe. Horticultural oils also disrupt the metabolism of the insect eggs and the ability of other insects to feed which leads to starvation causing the insect to die.
The subject of this topic is so vast that it is beyond the scope of this article, however, we will be looking at two groups of insects present in our gardens. No matter the style, type, or size of our gardens we can all agree that the presence of garden insects will always be seen. We have the good bugs and the bad bugs.
The good bugs are known as the good guys or beneficial insects that police our gardens protecting our plants by feeding on the bad bugs, the bad bugs, on the other hand, are the ones that cause great destruction to our gardens by feeding on our plants. Have you ever planted a garden and cared for it spending so much time watering, fertilizing, grooming, and cleaning, and then out of nowhere it catches your eyes as you are startled by these garden insect pests feasting on your plants?
Garden insect pests and methods used to control them
- Mechanical Control
- Biological Control
- Cultural Control
- Chemical Control
Mechanical Control
Mechanical Control is a safe approach in which tools such as garden pruners, lopper shears, etc.… are used to remove small! sections of plant parts that are affected by garden insect pests or diseases.
Biological Control
Biological Control is encouraging or releasing beneficial insects into your garden area to eliminate the bad bugs by feeding on them.
Cultural Control
Cultural Control or Good Cultural Practice involves installing garden plants in the right area and using the correct maintenance practices to minimize the onslaught of garden insect pests.
Chemical Control
Way before our time garden insect pests had always invaded gardens and landscape areas, therefore many methods were sorted on how to bring these insect pests under control. Some of the chemicals that were formulated and used were not a safe approach for humans or animals even though these approaches proved to be effective.
Then other pesticides were produced that were considered to be environmentally safe such as insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils. While I don’t want to prolong this article or tire you we will jump right into horticultural oils.
How to use horticultural oil?
The use of horticultural oils is another way to bring garden insect pests under control, while this may be good news both for you and your garden plant care should be taken when it comes to using these oils. Horticultural oils are effective against soft-bodied sucking insects such as mealybugs, scales, thrips, whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, and so on but can also eliminate beneficial insects if they come in contact with these oils.
Before using horticultural oils or other garden products it is always best to carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s label for the best results. Following these instructions will give you greater success.
The best time to apply horticultural oils
The best time to make applications is when garden insect pests are most active so they can come in contact with these oils. When applying dormant oils, make spray applications before the flower opens. If the oils are sprayed on plants only and dry before insect pests make contact will prove ineffective because as discussed earlier these oils must come in contact with the host insects. Horticultural oil can be considered a contact spray. The term dormant oils refers to the time these oils are used which is the dormant seasons.
Summer oils are much lighter and can be used during the growing season but using these oils under high temperatures will cause the leaves to burn, wait until it is cooler, or when the temperature drops.
Some brands of horticultural oils
- Monterey horticultural oil
- Bonide all seasons horticultural and dormant oil spray
- Sunspray ultra-refine spray oil
Word of caution with these oils
1. As said earlier it is always best to read and follow the manufacturer’s label when applying horticultural oil sprays.
2. Applying horticultural oils during the wintertime or when it is freezing is ineffective.
3. Do not apply when plants are wet.
4. Oils should not be applied to sensitive plants, read the label for plant use.
5. Horticultural oils should not be applied in the summer when temperatures are in the high 90s.
6. Horticultural oils should not be applied to plants that are stressed from lack of water. Water stress plants thoroughly, and wait a day, once the plant has recovered you can begin treating insects.
Conclusion
Horticultural oils are very effective and have proven to give good results once applied the right way. These oils can help you to bring garden insect pest control, with the help of these oils you will be in full control as you come to your plant’s aid. I believe that the safe approach is always the best way because we don’t want to use pesticides that can harm beneficial insects, pollinators, and wildlife and contaminate the environment. Use the safe approach and make horticultural oil your choice as we eliminate garden insect pests the safe way.