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Help - Spider Mite infested fig tree!

victoria.brooks100victoria.brooks100 Posts: 1
in Fruit & veg
Hello! I have just bought a house with a large fig tree in the garden - it is probably around 15ft tall so very difficult to reach the top.

The tree has been growing out of control and is large with many branches, but I've noticed that is badly infested with spider mites. Lots of the leaves have been affected with many having been eaten away with holes in them now - including some of the leaves up at the top which I cannot reach. I've tried to cut back some of the branches and leaves that have been badly affected but I can't reach most of it to spray / wipe the leaves as is suggested in lots of articles. What's the best course of action?! Would appreciate any advice!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't have a fig tree, but spider mites only thrive in dry and ideally hot conditions, so most of them will be dying off at this time of year.
    However, the females hibernate in cracks and crevices over winter and reappear when the conditions are right for them the following year - i.e. dry and warm/hot
    I don't know what your best course of action is, but at least you've got plenty of time to try and find an answer before they reappear.

    The best defence is a healthy plant.
    I sometimes use Winter Wash for trees, but not sure of its suitability for figs - hopefully someone can advise.
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vitax-500ml-Winter-Tree-Wash/dp/B004KL2CEW

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We have a large fig tree here.  No spider mite but it was too congested so we removed all the lower stems and branches to let air circulate below and then went in and thinned 1 in 3 of the remaining upper stems so the whole thing is airy.

    I would do that to yours too and then give what's left a really good blast from a hosepipe with a spray nozzle.   That should shift insects, dust, spiders and webs.   Then do that again next spring when there are no frosts forecast so that any beasties emerging from hibernation get blasted off. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with @Obelixx … weve not had spider mites on our fig (yet) but if we did that’s what Id do. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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