{"id":15243,"date":"2025-12-06T23:04:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T23:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/library\/oils-4\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T23:04:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T23:04:59","slug":"oils-4","status":"publish","type":"library","link":"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/library\/oils-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Oils"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Oils – Pest Control Products to Use With Caution Newsletter<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

OILS<\/span><\/h1>\n

Pest Control Products to Use With Caution<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\nI’m often asked whether dormant oil is acceptable insect control and do I recommend its use. It\u2019s a somewhat complicated answer. Oils sprayed in the dormant season are acceptable in an organic program; however, there are several \u201cbuts\u201d. I rarely recommend them now and never use myself because they are non-selective and kill over-wintering beneficial insects as well as pests. With proper soil building and healthy plants resulting from the organic program, spraying to kill is rarely needed. If you have insect pressure serious enough to warrant dormant oil spraying, here\u2019s more detail you need to know.<\/p>\n

\nIn the past, horticultural oils were heavier and used only when plants were not in their growing seasons (dormant). They were called dormant oils. The old oils killed pests that overwintered on woody plants, but were too heavy to spray on plants with foliage. The term dormant oil is still used, but now generally refers to the application time rather than the product. New, lighter formulations allow use during the growing season. These products, sometimes called summer, superior, or supreme oils, can control pests from spider mites to whiteflies.<\/p>\n

\nHorticultural oils are safe to use around mammals, birds and reptiles but are toxic to fish. Applying oil in freezing conditions or extreme heat, or during drought or periods of new growth, can injure plants. Some plants, including maples, junipers, cedars and spruce are sensitive to these oils. Be cautious when using horticultural oils and apply them only as a last resort. They will potentially damage your plants and will definitely kill beneficial insects.<\/p>\n

Types of various oils used to spray for plant pests: <\/strong><\/p>\n

\nHorticultural oil – a highly refined complex mixture of hydrocarbons containing traces of nitrogen and sulfur-linked compounds that is used to control plant pests. It is an acceptable alternative to control pests in organic farming, but horticultural oil usage is poorly understood since the product labels give little information on the content.<\/p>\n

\nDormant oil – was originally a less refined oil used for woody plants during the dormant season. Dormant oil now refers to the time of application rather than the characteristic of the oil.<\/p>\n

\nMineral oil – oil found in the rock strata. The white mineral oil is the tasteless petroleum used for pharmaceuticals or medicinal purposes.<\/p>\n

\nNarrow-range oil – highly refined that has a narrow range of distillation.<\/p>\n

\nPetroleum oil – same as horticultural oil and a more common term of reference in some circles.<\/p>\n

\nSummer oil – refined oil used on plants when foliage is present as well as in the winter.<\/p>\n

\nSupreme oil – highly refined and distilled oil.<\/p>\n

\nVegetable oil – derived from the seeds of some oil seed crops.<\/p>\n

\nBotanical plant oil – derived from parts of plants known to have insecticidal properties – garlic oil, chinaberry oil, citrus oil, custard apple seed oil, garlic oil, neem oil and pongam oil spray.<\/p>\n

Precautions when using horticultural oils: <\/strong><\/p>\n