It is very annoying for every gardener when their plants are attacked by pests. There are pests that are difficult to distinguish, but they can deform a plant if they are numerous. Gall mites are microscopic animals, only a quarter of a millimeter long. They feed on plant juices and damage plants by causing growths (or galls). The pests are very difficult to detect, but you can easily see the swelling and deformation they cause. Like you gall mitesfight naturally, we will show you.
How do you recognize a gall mite infestation?
There are many species of gall mites. There are species specific to apple, beech, birch, hazel, plum, plane, walnut and other trees. An infestation causes the plant to no longer produce healthy leaves and flowers. The pests spread quickly. Most species of gall mite overwinter as females on host plants in bark crevices. In spring the gall mites begin feeding and laying eggs.
Leaves affected by the pests have excessive hairiness. A damaged plant will have enlarged buds and blistering of the foliage and hard, raised bumps on the surface of the leaves.
What types of galls do the pests cause?
Galls can be of different shapes and colors. They can be yellowish, bumpy spots on green leaves. Leaf galls form on the leaf blades or petioles. The most common galls are seen as leaf curls, blisters, nipples, or erineums (hairy, felt-like growths) on the upper or lower leaf surfaces. You can also see stem and branch galls on the plants. These are deformed growths on stems and branches. They may be mild swellings or large nodular growths. Bud or flower galls are also often found in cases of gall mite infestation. They result in deformed size and shape of buds and flowers.
How can you fight gall mites naturally?
For mild infestations, you can simply remove the galls and any affected leaves or shoots. This is the quickest way to get rid of gall mites. If you cut off the infected leaves and branches, you will minimize the population of the pests. About the mitesto remove from the plant, first cut off all affected branches at least two nodes below the affected area. Use clean scissors. Be careful not to scatter the mites on surrounding plants as they can easily infest them.
If the infestation is minor, the plant may not be harmed. However, it can become a problem when the galls are numerous on very young plants. Damage can occur when there are many galls on the branches or occur several years in a row. What to do? You can fight gall mites naturally by using some simple home remedies. Below we will give you some effective tips and suggestions for combating gall mites. Try these remedies.
Insecticidal soap against pests
If your plants are severely infested, you can use some home remedies to combat the pests. You can purchase an insecticidal soap that kills gall mites. You can also make a home remedy yourself. Here is a simple recipe. Follow these steps: Simply mix 2 ½ tablespoons of vegetable oil with 2 ½ tablespoons of organic liquid soap in 4 L gallon of water. Shake well and apply to plants. You can also apply insecticidal soap or oil to the entire plant once it is vulnerable to get rid of remaining mites. When applying the soap, you should continue using it every 7 to 10 days to completely eradicate the mites.
Nettle to combat gall mites
A nettle slurry has also proven to be effective against gall mites. Here is the prescription. Crush 1 kg of nettles and soak them in 10 l of water. Cover the container tightly and let the mixture soak for 3 days, stirring occasionally. Then filter the mixture and spray the plants liberally several times every 3 to 4 days until the pests disappear.
Attract ladybugs to the garden
Gardeners know that ladybugs are a good choice when it comes to biological control of outdoor pests because they feed on mites and other plant pests and can help get rid of them quickly. Besides thatthey harm your plantsnot and are really easy to use. You just need to release them near the infected plants and let them do their job. If you want to attract ladybugs, plant herbs like cilantro, fennel, and dill. Ladybugs also like to live in well-watered gardens because they need to drink frequently.
Fight gall mites with lacewings
These beneficial insects are very helpful when it comes to combating gall mites. How do you attract them to your outdoor space? Some plants come to the rescue! Plants that attract beneficial insects such as lacewings include: dill, oregano, cosmos, coreopsis, asters, elecampane, verbena, daisies and others.
Use garlic and oil
A simple recipe using garlic and oil can save your plants from those pesky gall mites. Use a homemade mixture of 100g garlic and 20ml oil, soaking for 24 hours. Then add 1 liter of water and 10 ml of pure soap. Before using the mixture, dilute it in a ratio of 1:20.
