Rid Your Plants of Scale

GardenRx: Rid Your Plants of Scale

Rid Your Plants of Scale / Scale looks like shell-like bums on the stems and undersides of leaves, treat scale infected plants naturally without chemical spray.

Scale looks like shell-like bums on the stems and undersides of leaves. Heavy infestations can result in poor plant growth. Some species of scales produce a sticky liquid called honeydew that is deposited on the foliage. Under damp conditions this honeydew can become infested with fungus know as sooty mold Some species of ants collect the honeydew as well.

Scales are susceptible to oil spray.

Step 1: Make the oil mixture – 1 cup vegetable oil (safflower, corn, soybean, or canola) and 2 cups water. Place in jar or empty squeezable ketchup bottle.

Step 2: Make spray – mix 1 tablespoon oil mixture (for delicate plants reduce oil mixture to 1 teaspoon) with 2 cups water. Place in spray bottle, shake and spray. Shake periodically to keep mixed. Repeat every 7 to 10 days. Check for burning. (Could be used in hose end sprayer for trees).