Month: November 2020

Understand the working of SK Eco Oil Spray SK Eco Oil Spray is a food grade, emulsified mineral oil, manufactured thru patented refining technology making it the safest mineral oil for growers, consumers, and the environment. Due to its high paraffin content, it greatly improves insecticidal and fungicidal efficiency as well as its safety to plants. A highly effective multipurpose product, with insecticidal, acaricidal and fungicidal activity, SK Eco Oil Spray controls a variety of insects and mite pests, along with plant diseases. It gives exceptionally good control of powdery mildew on crops susceptible to this disease. It is safe to use on wide range of crops and ornamentals. It controls various developmental stages of spider mites, rust mites, scale insects, whiteflies, and aphids; on numerous fruits, vegetables, field crops and ornamental plants, grown outdoors or in greenhouses. SK Eco Oil Spray’s mode of action is completely different to all other pesticide groups, making it an ideal solution in pesticide resistance management as well as an essential part of any Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. SK Eco Oil Spray’s unique insecticidal and fungicidal activity is attributed mainly to suffocation or asphyxiation. In the case of insects and mites, the suffocation occurs when the oil moves by capillary action into aeropyles of eggs, and into spiracles and tracheae of immature and adult stages of the target pests. With fungi the oil prevents growth of the mycelia and formation of reproductive bodies (sporulation). SK Eco Oil Spray can also be used as an adjuvant. When mixed with other products is has a synergistic effect due to the following: Increases coverage due to reduced surface tensionIt protects the other products from breakdownIncreases adherence and spreadingIncreases cuticular penetrationIncreases residual activity of other productsPrevents evaporation and driftIncreases retention An excellent cost-effective product, with no post-harvest restrictions and low impact on natural enemies, SK Eco Oil Spray is recommended for organic farming and gardening. 1. SK Eco Oil Spray - Quick-break oil in water emulsion2. Spray droplets hit leaves3. SK Eco Oil Spray remains on leaf surface or moves into leaf4. Healthy leaf after treatment

Copstar, a copper fungicide approved for organic gardening, can be the ideal product for gardeners who prefer to avoid chemical fungicides. Using copper fungicides can be confusing but knowing exactly when and how to use copper fungicide is the key to success. First you need to know what a copper fungicide is and how it works: Copper is a metal that, in dissolved form, penetrates plant tissues and helps control fungal diseases. If you spray the leaves, it interacts with the fungus on the leaves, usually kills it and doesn’t allow it to reproduce. It controls and prevents fungal diseases such as: ScabFruit spotBlightBlack spotRustDowny mildewLeaf curlBacterial spot The product works by protecting plants against development of new infections. Ideally, apply Copstar before fungus is visible. Otherwise, apply the product immediately when you first notice signs of fungal disease. Few things to know before starting with your application: There are three big mistakes you can make when trying to manage fungal diseases in your garden is: First, starting to late. Usually people start spraying when you see a problem and it can be effective to get it under control if you start dealing with the fungus when the problem appears. But you really want to start 2 – 3 weeks before the fungus arrives in your garden. If it arrives one year, most liking it’s going to keep arriving year after year. Take note of when to start spraying preventively for the next year. Secondly not to continue with a spraying routine. Your routine can be every 7, 10 or 14 days, but you want to pick a routine and stick to it. Mark it on a calendar or put it in your smart phone and keep the sprays going regularly. The third, very critical thing is to spray during the right time of the day and not to apply Copstar on very hot days. Spray early mornings or in the evenings. If it’s too hot the leaves will be damaged. How to apply Copstar: Note: Remember to mark your sprayers with a sticker or a permanent marker: insecticides / fungicides sprayer and herbicides sprayer.  Fill up the cleaned sprayer with half of the water needed for the mixture.Shake the product before measuring out the recommend dosage of product and pour into the sprayer.Fill up the sprayer with the rest of the water.Close sprayer and shake to mix.Solution is now ready to be sprayed. The key to controlling fungal diseases is to get good coverage. Very important to spray the underside of the leaves first, especially when spraying for blight. Spray just before the point of run-off, because if it runs off, you’re contaminating the soil and the fungicide doesn’t do any good on the ground. If you get rain on plants, you will need to re-apply. A few pointers to keep in mind: Very important to follow the label on mixing and to observe the restrictions on harvest.Remember that the ratio that you mixed for one type of plant, is not necessary the correct ratio for the next. Once you have test spayed what ratio of mixture works the best for your garden, we advise to write the mixture on the bottle with a permanent marker for future use.Never mix copper fungicides with other chemicals and don’t over-apply fungicides.In case it’s time to prune your fruit trees, only spray after pruning. You don’t want to spray anything you are going to cut off. We hope that you now have a better understanding of how and when to use copper fungicides. Copstar, a copper fungicide distributed by Makhro Home and Garden is available nationwide. Visit our website www.makhro.co.za to view more product information or view our retailers. Please feel free contact us should you require any further assistance.

THE BUG WARS We can be proactive in fighting certain pests that occur year after year in the garden. Makhro Home and Garden (Pty) Ltd would like to introduce you to one of the stars in our product range: KOINOR 350 SC KOINOR is more than just an insecticide as it not only controls the insect pest that it is targeted against, but also provides lengthy protection by controlling the insect vectors of various plant that plants are susceptible to and which can completely halt their development and devastate the crop. Due to the versatility of KOINOR and the numerous application methods via which the active ingredient - imidacloprid can be applied, the harm that it can cause to the beneficial insect and mite population can be minimized or eliminated significantly. KOINOR is a systemic insecticide, controlling Aphids and other sucking insects on Roses, Conifers and Citrus. Koinor can also be used as a nest treatment for Ants and Mole crickets on lawns. Quick and Easy application Koinor is applied to the soil around the plant using a watering can or jug; the plants take the Koinor up through the roots and transport it through the plant sap to the leaves. The Koinor is present in the plant sap and protects the plant from insects that suck the plant sap such as Aphids. Timing is important Koinor must be applied early spring when the plant is growing actively. The plants are protected from the start, focus on species that are attacked every year like: Roses Conifers Citrus Mandevillea Fuchsia Durantha Wild Olives Cycads Aloes Indoor pot plants Koinor offers protection for six months at a time and needs to be repeated Early Summer Koinor will give protection to Citrus varieties against: Aphids, Red Scale, Psylla and Leafminer. The important thing to remember is to apply the Koinor in August, if you apply it later you will not be able to use the fruit that have formed on the tree, they will have to be picked and discarded, and the first fruit set thereafter would be safe for harvesting. Koinor has more applications: Little black ants make nests in paving and driveways, mix Koinor in a watering can and apply a half a liter per nest entrance. Handy Tip: If the ants are coming into the house apply the Koinor around the house close to the wall, treat visible nests. The ants avoid the barrier of Koinor and do not go in the house; protection can last up to six months. Mole Crickets are a problem that may come back year after year. Many insecticides don’t work because they do not reach the insects that burrow deep into the soil. Preventative treatment can be achieved by applying the Koinor to the lawn in November and watering well. The nymphs hatch in November and it is easier to control them when they are young. Always when buying Garden Care products Read the label before buying the product to make sure it is the correct product for the job you have in mind. Follow the instructions carefully. Never mix more than you need and never dispose of leftover chemicals by throwing them down the drain. Koinor is a clever choice for busy gardeners who want to protect their plants and have more time for other things in life. Written by: Ute Jacobs and Wilmar Burger