To most people, scales are what you stand on before you take a shower. To your trees, shrubs, and groundcover, they are bad news. Hidden in their shells, they latch on and suck sap. Here are some ideas that will help you control them.
Scale insects crawl to eating sites soon after they hatch. That's when they're vulnerable. Contact your County Extension Agent to find out when crawlers in your area are active.
Scales go dormant in winter, but they're still on your trees and bushes. You can smother them with an oil spray, such as Ortho® Volk® Oil Spray in late winter.
Scale insects fit their name. They live in very hard shells that look like bits of bark for most of their lives. Scale bugs are very hard to see and control. They're most vulnerable after they hatch. That's when they crawl to their feeding spots where they will live the rest of their lives, except during a brief mating period.
