OT Gardeners: question about scale on camellias

Old lady board

I think you're going to have to trim them more.

Macroscopic scale on camellias is probably insect mass. Ag center website is a good resource to identify visually what it is to know what to apply to treat it.

Camellias have their buds set by now so pruning will mean less bloom production this fall.

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Why wouldn't you use an insecticide?

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Because my guy told me that an insecticide will kill bugs that prey on the scale. He said the oil smothers the scale bc the scale can't move..
If this isn't the case I would be happy to try something else. That oil stinks like hell and because I have to coat the underside of the leaves, it's pretty messy..

I have looked on the extension websites and its all very technical. I know how to care for grass, beyond that...

quote:

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Because my guy told me that an insecticide will kill bugs that prey on the scale. He said the oil smothers the scale bc the scale can't move.. If this isn't the case I would be happy to try something else. That oil stinks like hell and because I have to coat the underside of the leaves, it's pretty messy.. I have looked on the extension websites and its all very technical. I know how to care for grass, beyond that

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I personally would not worry too much about the bugs that are supposed to be eating scale, because they are not helping much anyway...

I would use an insecticide to kill the bugs that are there and then give it a good dousing with the neem oil to smother the eggs...

I haven't read the lable for scale, but one that I like to use is liquid sevin...it doesn't have much toxicity to anything but bugs and is cheap as hell because it has been on the market for so long...

Switch to Bayer 3 in 1 insect, disease, and mite control. It will take care of both of your problems instead of just the insects. Bayer makes awesome garden products.