Spider mites on a juniper are treated with a spray labeled for mites, such as an insecticidal soap or a synthetic pyrethroid spray, applied regularly while the mites are present. These tiny arachnids, eight legged relatives of spiders, are hard to see, so the most visible sign is the yellowing and stippling they leave on the foliage.

How can spider mites be identified on a juniper?

By yellowing and stippling, a fine pale speckling, across the foliage. The mites themselves are so small that a magnifying glass is needed to see them, and the spruce spider mite, one common type, ranges from green to olive to brownish red.

What kind of spray controls spider mites on a juniper?

A spray labeled for spider mites, repeated for as long as they are active. For an organic option, Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap is diluted one part to 50 parts water and applied generously, while Bug Buster II Insect Spray, a synthetic pyrethroid, is measured out at 1 oz per gallon of water for the same job.

How should a juniper be cared for during a mite problem?

With deep watering in dry spells and no extra nitrogen. Junipers do best with fewer, longer waterings that soak the root zone 24 to 36 inches deep and let the soil dry out in between. Excess nitrogen causes weak shoot growth and lowers tolerance to drought, cold, and disease, as the juniper fertilizer guide explains.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is insecticidal soap reapplied?

Whenever mites are still present. The product page gives no fixed interval and calls for regular applications while insects are active, so the foliage is checked and treated again as needed.

Does the soap need to cover the whole juniper?

Yes. It kills mites only on contact, so it is applied generously across the foliage.

Does the pyrethroid spray control other pests too?

Yes. Bug Buster II also lists aphids, leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, and pine sawfly among the pests it controls.

Are junipers the only conifers spider mites attack?

No. The spruce spider mite, despite its name, feeds on more than 40 species of conifers, including pine and spruce.