My beloved lemon tree has scale all over one main branch. I cut off the entire branch but I’m worried about the scale spreading since there were ants walking up and down the infected branch. This is my first time dealing with scale but I know scale isn’t good for a tree. Is there a systemic insecticide I could use to nip this on the bud? I’d obviously cut off flowers so I don’t kill the bees. Thank you!
I tried all kinds, scale kept coming back. And the ants.
Permethrin works pretty well for my dozen of citrus. I avoid spray during bloom and only after fruit have set.
It is important to spray for scale early in the year while they are young. The pesticide need not be systemic. I recommend you try Ortho Fruit Tree & Shrub spray.
I tried a systemic insecticide and it killed the bumblebees I brought into the greenhouse for three years after application. And as I remember it didn’t do that well on the scale. All seasons oil in summer and dormant oil in winter should do just as well and won’t kill the bees. You can have fruit. Spray every two weeks until the bees quit working the tree and you can’t find any scale.
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