When should strawberries be sprayed to control ticks? - briefly
Apply acaricide at the start of fruit development, before tick larvae become active, and repeat after heavy rain or every 7–10 days during the peak tick season.
When should strawberries be sprayed to control ticks? - in detail
Strawberry crops are most vulnerable to tick infestations during the early vegetative phase, when young foliage provides a favorable micro‑habitat for questing ticks. The optimal window for applying acaricides aligns with three key criteria: (1) the emergence of the first true leaves, (2) soil temperatures consistently above 10 °C (50 °F), and (3) a forecast of dry weather for at least 48 hours after treatment.
- First true leaf stage – Spraying at this stage targets ticks before they can establish on mature fruiting canes.
- Soil temperature – Temperatures below 10 °C suppress tick activity; above this threshold, ticks become active and can be effectively contacted by the spray.
- Dry period – A minimum of two consecutive dry days ensures adequate leaf coverage and prevents runoff, maximizing pesticide efficacy.
In regions with a single growing season, a second application is advisable after the first harvest, when new growth appears and soil temperatures rise again. For multi‑crop systems, repeat treatments should coincide with each new vegetative flush, always respecting the product’s pre‑harvest interval (typically 7–14 days) to avoid residue on marketable berries.
Monitoring tick populations with sticky traps or visual inspections every 7–10 days helps confirm that applications are timed correctly. If trap counts exceed threshold levels (e.g., >5 ticks per trap), an additional spray should be scheduled within the same temperature and weather parameters outlined above.