Mid-March and already spider mites have made their mark on Italian cypress and oaks. Since we had a warm fall, followed by a mild winter and no rain in March (so far) the Two-spotted spider mite has settled in and started sucking plant juices earlier in this season than expected. At this point in the season, look for copperish leaf discoloration or overall browning and death of a branch. If populations grow, webbing will start to be noticed, usually starting at the base of the petiole and the underside of the leaf and defoliation may be seen. Spider mites love dusty leaves so hose off your cypress, oaks and rosemary regularly to help keep populations low moving into the summer months. If you need help with a spider mite management program for your properties, please send me an email and we can discuss management strategies ideal for your situation.