Tiny white bugs...what are they?

[Jilliebean]

I just had my daughter 4 weeks ago so I haven't been out in the garden much in the past 6-8 weeks. Yesterday was a nice fall day so we went outside. I noticed tiny white bugs all over everything. They don't seem to be moving much but they are pretty much everywhere. Especially on my strawberry plants. Any ideas what they are and what I can do next spring to rid my garden of them?

[Chyna]

Could they be mites? Or maybe baby spiders. Just sounds odd that you'd have bugs right now with the seasons changing, they all should have been frozen or frost killed by now. :eek: Weird!

[Jilliebean]

Could be mites. I think they are too pervasive to be spiders.

[Fisherman]

There is also a fungus that creates white spots. Hopefully you have a good county extension agent you can call to identify what those are. In the meantime you could try a cure all old remedy. Doesn't always work but worth a try. Bug sprayer half filled with water and a few squirts of unscented dish soap. (or liquid laundry soap). Spray all affected areas on a dry day.

Putting up purple marten houses and bat boxes helps a lot with bug control but they require maintenance again. Over fertilizing creates problems. Had a yard full of huge mushrooms at one point. Tonya gave out a chili powder cure for ants - don't know if the boiling water or the powder got them. Some must have survived and moved on - crafty migraters! Have a grape vine that has black spot now - Augggh!

I buy bags of sulphur and seven dusts. Constantly at battle.