organic "dormant oil"

[gramma-T]

Not long ago I Mr. H give a recipe for something to spray on pecan trees instead of dormant oil. We've never sprayed anything--never had to. This year, I guess because of the rain, we had one of those web worm type jobbies on our biggest tree. When I heard him give the recipe, I wasn't where I could write it down and can't even begin to remember what's in it and cant find it anywhere else on the site. Am I just not looking in the right places?

[Dirt Doctor]

I don't recommend dormant oil at all. Horticultural oil, which is much more highly refined and won't injure plants - unless grossly misused, is acceptable but shouldn't be used unless there was a severe insect infestation the past season. The reason I am reluctant to push oil use is that it kills beneficials as well as the pests. If web worms are the only concern, release trichogramma wasps next spring starting as the leaves begin to emerge. A succession of releases is best and these little guys don't cost much.