Hi Olpea- I just double checked my "All Season's Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil" label. It basically says for apples, during the dormant stage, use 4% oil (10 tbsp/gal or .625 cups/gal). But, after that, I'm supposed to back it down to 2 or 3% depending on the target. So, I think I'm OK. Though I did notice that Scott thought it was more like .25 tbs/gal here in this link. IÂm thinking itÂs because my oil is an all seasons oil? Let me know if think I still may have a problem here. This is probably the amount I used last year. I included an excerpt from the label below. Thanks for looking out for me! -Glenn Hi Michael- Yeah, I too was frustrated that the Kocide 3000 label didnÂt have a rate per gallon. I didnÂt even attempt to convert from the gallons per acre rate. IÂm probably going to take the "private applicators" class later this week, and was hoping to learn more in this area. Until then, I just planned on doing what others here were recommending. For example, above in this thread, also in the same link as above, Scott says heÂs using 2 tbsp/gal rate. For now, thatÂs probably what IÂm going to go with. I also plan to put down a disposable tarp to help keep the excess to a minimum. Now, if I could just find the right day to spray! -Glenn From All Season's Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil" label: Apple: GREEN TIP THROUGH THE DELAYED DORMANT STAGESÂFor scale insects, red bugs, European red mite, bud moth, leaf roller, apple aphids (except rosy aphids). Use 2% actual oil solution for mites, San Jose scale - Use 3% actual oil solution for scurfy scale, leaf roller, bud moth, red bug, codling moth larvae. DORMANT STAGE of bud development for all above mentioned insects, use 4% actual oil.

Hman, I remembered the discussion about Tactic vs. Nufilm, but last year I had a hard time finding Tactic around here, so I went w/ the Nufilm. I was going to order a case of Nufilm for next year, but re-reading our old discussion does make Tactic sound like the superior choice. I will say my experience w/ Nufilm is that it seems very sticky, but our previous discussion seems to point to the superiority of Tactic. One thing that nags me (quite a bit) is that Nufilm has a PHI which is apparently due to it's supposed extending capabilities. In other words, the PHI is not for the sticker itself but because it's supposed to extend the life of the pesticide it's protecting. Obviously, in most cases, chemical companies try to get the shortest PHI approval on their label. I don't understand why NuFilm would have a 30 PHI, while Tactic has 0 PHI. I know enough about pesticide registration that the companies themselves would have had to do a lot of their own documented research during the labeling process. "Olpea...could the PHI on the sticker just be about encapsulating the spray material and not so much the sticker itself? If it is, I guess it is some indication of it's effectiveness. Olpea do you feel a sticker is advantageous when combining with oil? Wouldn't the oil act as a "sticker" in and of itself?" Apple, The 30 day PHI is not about the sticker itself. According to the label, Nufilm can be used up to day of harvest if used with pesticides which have a 0 PHI. This tells me, the EPA has no problem w/ folks eating NuFilm, but that they are worried the pesticides sprayed along w/ NuFilm won't degrade on the crop according to predicted rates. I wouldn't use a sticker w/ oil. Some labels don't recommend it. I've used oil w/ other pesticides, and it does seem like it provides some wash-off protection, although I've not read any studies on it. Oils also provide spreading. It's probably the emulsifiers in the oil that break the surface tension which causes it to act as a spreader.

Sorry to hear the damage on your new leaves...this time of year I don't apply anything to my fruit trees until the sun has set or just a few minutes before the sun sets...this way it has at least 12 hours to dry especially if the tree is planted in the ground. If its potted you can always spray the tree under some shady trees...the sun is just so strong this time of year...in the winter I can spray the trees around 7 am and not worry too much about it since the highs usually only reach low 70's and that's not till afternoon... Maybe call Southern Ag and ask if you should dilute the dosage to 3 tsp for "new growths" or weather spraying it after sunset or early evening is enough to protect it from burning? Good luck!

Val, Bed Bath & Beyond sells duvet clips (you may have to ask someone to find them for you in the store, I did). They are padded so you won't feel them too much on the outside, inside they clip the edge of the duvet to the comforter. I had to buy a couple sets for my cal king bedding, just doing the corners wasn't enough. DH would tug on it and the clip would fall out. They're a hassle to put on and you'll find you don't want to wash the duvet as often just to avoid the whole clipping and unclipping process. But at least it keeps the comforter from traveling inside the duvet. I'm so sick of dealing with this problem this will be my last duvet. If I have to pile on layer after layer of coverlets I'll do it just to be rid of this annoyance. Maybe I dislike duvets more than most people because a Cal King comforter is so large it's difficult to shake it out when the comforter falls to the foot of the bed. I hate pulling up the duvet on a cold night only to realize there is no comforter inside, it's moved halfway down the bed!