You can usually get rid of spider mites with a simple blast from the water hose. I personally have never had an issue on my phlox. Now my dwarf spruces are another story....but the hose takes care of them.

how about a pic or 2 so we can see if you have IDd the proper issue ...

bugs are yearly cyclical ... you might not see this type of population boom for another decade ... so i doubt there is any prevention required ...

IPM... integrated pest management also suggests.. you react to an actual problem.. not try to prevent every eventuality on the face of the earth ...

im rather surprised you have a mite issue... this time of year... its mildew time on phlox ... go figure ...

ken

ps: is bonide soap labeled as a miticide .. you know.. they arent really bugs??? .. so using an insecticide.. may accomplish nothing .. its all on the label... by law ...

double checking: you are sure it is spider mites and not a thick coat of powdery mildew?

Possibly both?. I ask because in all my years of gardening I always have some (or lots) of

mildew on phlox and have never had spider mites. Anything is possible, I'm sure.

Its definitely a mite issue. Sent sample to UD extension and they said they were covered. I couldn't see them until I used magnifying glass on underside of leaves. You can see the white webs and tiny bug crawling under every leaf I checked. Its been really dry and hit here in delaware. They had leaves starting to curl under, that's why I sent a sample in.

That's convincing.I don't think it would have been better to have PM! Probably worse cause you can often control 'SM with hard spray of water. Let us know what happens.