I think they will be back OK next year. You might set up a spraying program
to get rid of the mites. My wife uses a teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a
quart of water and sprays it directly on the leaves and mites. you may have
to spray a couple of times per infestation.

You can also buy a spray in an aerosol that is very good, usually only a
couple of applications are needed.

Lady bugs will work overtime to help you get rid of the little buggers. You
can order them, or look through the garden and put them in a jar until you
can release them on your plants.

Good luck. Dwayne

"Raleighgirl" wrote in message
. com...
The spider mites devastated my two yellow butterfly bushes this
year (They also worked out on my hackberry tree and deciduous
conifers- grrrrrrrr!). The bushes are !UGLY! now. Will they
come back normal next year or does the curse of the spider mites
affect how they will grow from here on out?

If they're not going to be healthy and beautiful then I'd like
some suggestions of what to plant there. I definitely want a
woody perennial that has yellow blooms. I'd like something with
a very long blooming season. The spot has a lot of light but
direct sunlight in afternoons only. I'd like to plant something
that's either fragrant or attracts hummers. Suggestions? TIA.

Yea! On with fall. I'm ready to PLANT.
Raleighgirl