Q. I have a peach tree that
has been in the ground one year. I was supposed to spray it with dormant oil
spray before leafing out. Is copper fungicide okay for spraying in the spring? Want
to avoid bad pesticides because of birds, good bugs, etc.
has been in the ground one year. I was supposed to spray it with dormant oil
spray before leafing out. Is copper fungicide okay for spraying in the spring? Want
to avoid bad pesticides because of birds, good bugs, etc.
A. There is a confusion
out there concerning dormant sprays and dormant oil. Dormant sprays can be a
number of different types of sprays. The name “Dormant Spray” is a trade name
and tells me nothing about its contents.
out there concerning dormant sprays and dormant oil. Dormant sprays can be a
number of different types of sprays. The name “Dormant Spray” is a trade name
and tells me nothing about its contents.
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| Dormant oils or horticultural oils help prevent insect pests in the coming growing season |
If
I have the trade name (Dormant Spray) and the manufacturer then I can look it
up and I will know exactly what it contains. There is no hard and fast rule
that you can apply when you are talking about dormant sprays.
I have the trade name (Dormant Spray) and the manufacturer then I can look it
up and I will know exactly what it contains. There is no hard and fast rule
that you can apply when you are talking about dormant sprays.
However,
dormant sprays are usually a traditional pesticide or combination of
traditional pesticides that are sprayed during the winter or early spring. Sometimes
they contain a fungicide that has copper in it and sometimes they contain an
insecticide as well. They are not typically organic.
dormant sprays are usually a traditional pesticide or combination of
traditional pesticides that are sprayed during the winter or early spring. Sometimes
they contain a fungicide that has copper in it and sometimes they contain an
insecticide as well. They are not typically organic.
Dormant
oils, on the other hand, are very specific. They vary a little bit among
manufacturers but not like dormant sprays.
oils, on the other hand, are very specific. They vary a little bit among
manufacturers but not like dormant sprays.
There
is no reason for spraying a copper fungicide contained in the dormant spray if
there are no problems to solve. However, dormant oils are very important to
apply as a preventive measure for controlling some of the insects common on
fruit trees.
is no reason for spraying a copper fungicide contained in the dormant spray if
there are no problems to solve. However, dormant oils are very important to
apply as a preventive measure for controlling some of the insects common on
fruit trees.
There is no reason for spraying copper fungicide now
unless you have a good reason for it. Be sure you have a SPECIFIC reason for
doing this before you do it. On a one year old peach tree I doubt it unless you
have disease pressure from Coryneum blight/shothole fungus.
unless you have a good reason for it. Be sure you have a SPECIFIC reason for
doing this before you do it. On a one year old peach tree I doubt it unless you
have disease pressure from Coryneum blight/shothole fungus.
If we have extended
periods of wet weather or rain you might consider it after the rain has
finished. But otherwise I would not do it.
periods of wet weather or rain you might consider it after the rain has
finished. But otherwise I would not do it.