HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- I got out the mite control sprays this last weekend. As I looked over my flowers on the deck and patio, I noticed tiny mites started to make a nuisance of themselves on my flowers. As I looked closely at my marigold leaves for instance, I could see those tiny white spots where each mite was sucking the plant juices out of my precious plants.

If you let this condition linger on, you will probably be throwing the flowers in that planter on the compost pile in no time. Mites are so small that its near impossible to see with the naked eye. That's only a partially correct statement. If you put a piece of white paper under the effected leaves or leaves suspected of having mites and shake those leaves, you should be able to see tiny specks moving all so slowly on the paper's surface.

They are your mites and need to be controlled as I mentioned. As I have explained several times, some of your evergreens shrubs like Alberta Spruce are targets, and if they don't have them this year, its only a matter of time when they will find the juicy plant for lunch.

Talking about evergreens, keep an eye on your azalea bushes for lace bug damage that will turn your beautiful green leaves to a copper color before fall. They too will create those tiny white spots and need to be sprayed with the same sprays in which you control mites.

Check with your store manager for the right control pesticide and make sure to read and follow all label directions.