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I am sorry if I keep asking the same questions....but here goes again.
My Arborvite shrubs I think have spider mites. I have some brown patches here and there. It's not SERIOUS 'yet'. I would really, really appreciate some advice! I am really unsure what I should do since it is really getting cool now (fall has arrived unfortunately!)
Should I spray with a Miticide NOW (we've had sooooo much rain recently) OR Spray with a Neem Oil in late winter? We already sprayed about 3 weeks ago and haven't done it again (cause of all the rain)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a million!
P.S. Those in the South, what are your temps now? (it's in the 50's -60's now and coldish!)

Wavy, applying anything to a shrub or tree to control a "I think its"....can be harmful if the chemical doesn't solve the problem its designed for.
Much better to identify the problem by looking at how the pest leaves evidence of its being there.

Spider Mites --like the name, leaves webs on the undersides of leaves and possibly in the crotches of limbs.
Spider mites are dangerous in that they spread so quickly their being on the plant can cause much harm by their destroying the leaves---the thing that plants need to take up moisture by.

If you have a container of miticide and it specifically says you can spray at this time then I see no problem in doing it.
If low nighttime temperatures do not result in icing, then it can do no harm.

I've got a confession; I've never heard of "arborite tree or shrub" and every time I looked it up all I got was information on the material used often for kitchen counters.
So thank you for the update.

Well, gardeners know that arbivitae are evergreen shrubs/trees. Think similar to cedars or junipers.

Hmmmm, never heard of arborvite?

Wavy, do you actually see the webs?

Knowing something about Spider Mites can help in controlling them. Generally the hotter and dryer your weather the more of a problem they can be because in hot and dry weather they suck more plant sap which cause them to mate more which produces more of them. Misting the plant, raise the humidity and lowers the temperature, can be of some help. Perhaps this link will be of some use.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html

What you can do to determine that you have spider mites is take a white sheet of paper and hold it under a portion of the plant. Jiggle the plant over the paper & look closely. The mites will be VERY tiny & you will see movement on the paper.

Well, there you go; I read it as arboRite....when Wavy said arborVite.....I just read the word wrong.

Hmm....never missed a letter in a word..?

Hmm!

I have several Italian Cypress that I planted 4-5 years ago. When I noticed a branch turning brown from mites I immediately poured Bayer Systemic around the base. It comes in granular and liquid form and last up to a year. It took care of the problem.

Be sure never to use it on edibles.

Ah yes... I used some of the systemic stuff on azaleas badly infested with azalea lace bugs late last summer. It was recommended to me by my landscape guy early this spring. I really thought the shrubs were toast and would have to be replaced after those bugs got hold of them, but they rebounded good as new by the middle of this summer.

Zonelady, I have used that systemic insecticide 3 yrs. ago when an Arborist recommended it for mites on my Pine Tree. However, after I applied it, I read the label and SPIDER MITES were not mentioned on the label. It Must say it is for Spider Mites. Anyway, I have not seen any 'webs' from Spider Mites on my Arborvite shrubs. I was alarmed when I noticed that many of my beloved Arborvite Shrubs started to get brown spots randomly on some of the leaves. This was noticed towards the end of August and I had no idea what the cause of it was. I did the "white paper test" just the other day again, and only saw a few spider mites. Not a whole lot. I just have no idea why some of the leaves started turning brown. This never happened before. These are a whole row of Arbovite shrubs & Euonymous shrubs as a privacy screen. I have about 22 of them in backyard. I just am worried and want to ensure that they will be okay next spring. I don't want to replace them, no way, I love them!
Thank you for your help, it is appreciated!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wavy,

There is some evidence out there that systemics, and Imidacloprid is in this one, is causing major problems with our pollintors. Researchers have noticed that bees visiting the flowers of plants treated with Imidacloprid become very disoriented and fail to find their way back to the hive.

KimmSr is right, knowledge is power, knowing is half the battle and all those other cliches you can apply to this situation! But here is more information on the spider mite that can really set you up for success when it comes to getting rid of them:

http://www.domyownpestcontrol....mites-c-501_509.html

And another old thread is brought forth so someone can advertise!

What is with this? Are these folks nuts?
Most of us wouldn't patronize a place that sticks their ads all over in unwanted areas!

As is noted in the link I provided earlier spraying something to control Spider Mites can also kill off the predators of these wee buggers and cause a population explosion of the Spider Mites. Knowing something about your enemy can be of help when you want to control them.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html

quote:

Originally posted by KimmSr:
As is noted in the link I provided earlier spraying something to control Spider Mites can also kill off the predators of these wee buggers and cause a population explosion of the Spider Mites. Knowing something about your enemy can be of help when you want to control them.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html

Kimm, did you read my post just above yours???

karen, probably not.