Ok so I can now add spider mites to the list of plagues that have attacked my garden this year

So basically it seems the empty lot behind my private backyard has become a breeding ground for weeds as tall as me and every garden pest known to man as before the property management stopped maintaining it I never had these problems. Either way my japanese maples were brutally attacked by aphids earlier this spring, which led to treating them for that which between safer soaps and water spraying to wash the little monsters off which seems to have also taken its toll on them, now the heat and lack of rain, and despite very active monitoring as I was watering this morning I noticed some yellow spotted leaves and a patch of webbing here and there and then I found them, swarms of tiny little spider mites moving into all of my plants.


I guess I am looking for a safer way to deal with the mites because as I said my maples have already taken a beating this year, but judging by the mass of them that I have found I need to do something that works quickly? Any suggestions. Before this year I have also generally used a watered down treatment of neem on my garden but decided not to after a lot of reading explaining how maples do not respond well to it, however I am starting to think I should go back to using it.

I just had a nasty attack of Mites on a Trident of mine. My answer was to defoliate (but I was going to do that anyway) I spent a good amount of time researching effective Mite control and talking with a few Maple nurseries as well as Bonsai nurseries and I was recommended Orthene. Which is Acephate and works on a few other things like aphids and leaf hoppers. Its systemic for 30 days and is a LOT safer then working with things like Merit (which would be a mistake for mites anyway) and more effective then most other over the counter miticides.

So I ordered some from greenhouse megastore.
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/orthene-tt-and-o-3-4-pound/insecticides

-Jay

After some quick research the only things I have seen that I do not think would hurt more than help are the watered down neem, and or just spraying the crap out of them a few good times, that and a lovely batch of water flour and baking soda, but that just seems messy

Jay,


Thanks I will check it out, and I love that store so any excuse to order lol

I've found in the past that simply repeatedly spraying the foliage (every day for a while) with a good stream of water - tops and bottoms of the leaves - can help control or even eliminate mites. I'd do that right away, at least until you can get your hands on an appropriate miticide.

Yeah thats what I just went out and did, luckily it seems to be contained to those few trees I had been keeping on my shaded patio for protection from the sun and heat the last week, although I will go ahead and preventatively treat the whole garden

Neem oil 1, spider mites 0 I like winning lol