Brunnings White Oil Ready To Use 3L

Brunnings White Oil Ready to Use 3L: Non-Aerosol Scale & Insect Spray

Brunnings White Oil Ready to Use is a non-aerosol insecticide that controls scale on citrus, roses, shrubs and ornamentals, along with a range of other common garden pests. It comes pre-mixed at the correct strength, so there's no measuring, diluting or guesswork, you just spray it straight onto the plant. This is the 3 litre size.

Why the 3L Size Makes Sense

Small ready-to-use bottles run out fast once you're treating more than a plant or two. Scale on a mature citrus tree, an infested hedge, or a row of roses can easily take most of a small bottle in one session, and scale usually needs a follow-up treatment a couple of weeks later. The 3 litre size gives you enough to do a proper job on established plants, treat several plants in one go, and come back for the follow-up without running dry. It's also handy for refilling a smaller spray bottle for everyday spot-treating.

Non-Aerosol

Being a non-aerosol liquid, there's no propellant involved. That means no aerosol can to dispose of, no risk of the can losing pressure before it's empty, and no restrictions around storing or transporting a pressurised container. For people who'd rather avoid aerosols generally, this is the same product in a straightforward liquid form.

What It Treats

White oil controls scale on citrus, roses, shrubs and ornamentals, as well as aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, white fly, white louse and sooty mould. It works physically rather than chemically: the oil coats the pest and blocks the pores it breathes through, so it suffocates.

That mechanism explains the single most important thing about using white oil well, you have to hit the pest directly. Scale and mealy bug shelter under leaves, in leaf joints, along stems and in the crevices of bark, and anything the spray doesn't physically wet will survive. Spray thoroughly and get right in under the foliage. The upside is that pests can't develop resistance to suffocation the way they do to chemical insecticides.

How to Use

Shake well before use, then spray directly onto the affected foliage until all surfaces are covered, including the undersides of leaves and along the stems. It can be applied through the year, subject to the conditions below. With heavier scale infestations, check the plant a week or two later and treat again if needed.

Important: When Not to Spray

• Not in hot or windy conditions, and not in the heat of the day, oil on foliage in high temperatures burns leaves. Early morning or evening on a mild day is best.

• Not within 4 weeks of a sulphur spray, as oil and sulphur together cause serious plant damage.

• Not directly onto palms or flowers.

• Not on citrus trees in late autumn or winter.

• Not outdoors if rain is expected within 24 hours.

• Edible crops: don't pick for 1 day after spraying, and don't apply later than 1 day before harvest.

If you're treating a plant you haven't sprayed before, do a small test area and check it a few days later before doing the whole plant.

Safety & Storage

Don't spray directly on people, exposed food or utensils, and keep it out of drains, sewers, streams and ponds. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling. Store in a cool place out of direct sun and out of reach of children. Always read the label before use.

Key Features & Benefits

• Ready to use, pre-mixed at the correct strength with no dilution needed

• Non-aerosol, so no propellant and no pressurised can

• Controls scale, aphids, mealy bug, spider mites, white fly and sooty mould

• Suits citrus, roses, shrubs and ornamentals

• Works by suffocation, so pests can't build resistance

• Can be applied year round, subject to label conditions

• Generous 3 litre size for established plants and repeat treatments

• Handy for refilling a smaller spray bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to mix or dilute it?
No. It's supplied ready to use at the correct strength, so you just shake and spray. There's no measuring or mixing involved.

What's the difference between this and the aerosol?
The product does the same job. This is a non-aerosol liquid, so there's no propellant or pressurised can, and the 3 litre size suits bigger jobs and repeat treatments. The aerosol is more convenient for quick spot-treating of a plant or two.

How does white oil work?
It coats insects in a film of oil that blocks their breathing pores, suffocating them. Because it acts on contact, thorough coverage matters, especially on the undersides of leaves and in the leaf joints where scale and mealy bug hide.

What pests does it control?
Scale (including red and white wax scale, though not San Jose scale), aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, white fly, white louse and sooty mould.

When shouldn't I spray it?
Not in hot or windy conditions or in the heat of the day, not within 4 weeks of a sulphur spray, not directly on palms or flowers, and not on citrus in late autumn or winter. Also avoid spraying outdoors if rain is likely within 24 hours.

Why did my leaves burn after spraying?
Almost always because it was applied when it was too hot, or too soon after a sulphur spray. Oil on foliage in high temperatures causes leaf burn, so spray early morning or evening on a mild day.

Can I use it on fruit trees and vegetables?
Yes, following the label. Don't pick edible crops for 1 day after spraying, and don't apply later than 1 day before harvest.

How many treatments will 3 litres do?
That depends on plant size, but it's enough to treat several established shrubs or roses thoroughly and still have plenty left for the follow-up treatment that scale usually needs.