I'm new to the citrus world ( only a year ) i'm having trouble with leafminer and keep getting different solutions. None has worked as of yet
I have inherited alot of trees and i' trying to make sure they stay healthy. I could use any advice on soil mixes, sprays and fertilzers.

Thank You
Kayla
Louisiana

Hi Kayla, Welcome to the forum. I have been battling the leafminers for a couple years now. For fruiting trees, the best bet is horticultural oil (sprayed when temp is below 85 F--otherwise it can damage the tree). You have to spray it pretty often-- at least once a week, but you only have to spray the new growth. Miners lay eggs when the leaves are just 1/2 inch. The horticultural oil does not kill the miners it just keeps the moth from laying eggs.

One other option is spinosad--sold under various trade names-- it is relatively non toxic to humans and is not very persistient. The problem is according to the label you are not suppose to use it more than 6 times a year. It will kill the larvae that are already in the leaves whil the oil will not.

If you have some small non-fruiting trees you can use imidacloprid which is a systemic and gets into the leaves so that it kills the miners when they start munching. It is also sold under various trade names --one is Bayer Tree and Shrub.

There has been some research that found the miners do not significantly reduce production of mature trees when comparing treated and untreated trees, but that is in part due to the variability of production of mature trees and any measured reduction would have to be several times higher than the variability to be significant.

I think they can be devastating to small trees and they open the tree to disease.

I have found that, if you time your spray right, 6 times can be enough to keep the damage down. Here it is not necessary to spray on the first flush of growth. The CLM's have not built up enough to create a problem. Skeet is right that you should only spray at a time when the leaves are subseptible to damage. Spray only (1) when there is a CLM population actually affecting your trees (2) When the leaves are about 1/2" or so wide, or maybe a little larger.

If you watch closely for the eggs (little clear round globes, about as big as a pinhead), and initial signs of damage, you can pretty much time the optimum time to spray. John Panzarella has a good page on the subject at his website.

Ned

http://johnpanza.googlepages.com/citrusleafminer

Thank you both for your help. My problem is finding these product's where i live. I've also heard about STEM from your web site but don't know where i can get it. Most places around here sell the general type stuff. I have volick oil is that any good?


Thank Ya'll For Your Responce
Kayla

Recently, I read an article concerning a connection between citrus canker and leaf miners. Although the citrus leaf miner does not carry the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis that causes canker, it does provide leaf openings which the bacterium can enter and infect the tree. Areas with high leaf miner damage, also show a higher incidence of citrus canker. Kayla, Volk Oil is a horticulture oil much like Ultra Fine Horticultural Oil. You can use it as described in Skeeter's post. - Millet

Thanks so much. Like i said new to this and i appriciate everyone's help. I'm glad i found this site. Been going crazy trying to figure out what to do to make sure these tree's stay healthy. I have cell packs also and need to pot them should i use this STEM mix (if i can find it)?

Hi Kayla,
I found a product similar to STEM-- it was called Essential Element Mix and I got it at an Ace Hardware and feed store locally. STEM only comes in 25# bags, but the stuff I found is about 5# for $6.

Can you tell me where i can find it? I tried A.M. Lenard but they don't have any.

Thank You
Kayla

Do you have an Ace hardware?--That is where I got mine. If not you might check any feed/seed stores or garden centers.

Kayla, if the fertilizer you use already contains trace minerals in the formulation, you should not also add additional STEM (Soluble Trace Element Mix) or any other trace mineral supplement. STEM is mainly added to a new growth medium batch when it is originally being blended together. It is also added to seedling, and rooting mediums when they are first blended. Trace minerals, can be applied either with the fertilizer application or separately by a trace mineral formula, but NOT by both. Do not over apply trace minerals through both methods. - Millet