Crape Myrtle Bark Scale Treatment

Is your crape myrtle covered in waxy, whitish-gray looking scales? If so, it is likely infested with crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS). Often mistaken as powdery mildew, CMBS is actually a small, invasive insect that feeds primarily on crape myrtles. Those scales excrete honeydew, which coats the tree and causes the growth of black, sooty mold. Also, if you crush the scales, you will notice them ooze a reddish-pink liquid.

 

CMBS infected trees will look quite unsightly, and if left untreated will hinder the tree’s growth and ability to flower and flourish, and over a long period of time can eventually lead to premature death of the tree. The good news is that serious damage usually takes many years to set in, and we can get rid of the problem before that happens!

 

If your crape myrtles already have CMBS, a special treatment regiment is required to remove it. Our treatment method is a 3-step program that has been proven to be the most effective way to remove CMBS. The first two services will consist of drenching the infected tree with a specialized top-of-the-line insecticide. This will help to immediately kill the scales that are infecting it. The 3rd and final service will be a deep root zone soil injection of insecticide. This allows the insecticide to move up the tree over time, both killing any remaining scales while also preventing new infection. You can expect this process to take many months as the tree slowly uptakes the insecticide. New growth will then overtake the scale-covered bark and cause it to eventually fall off. Call Paul’s Lawn Care today so that we can take care of this unsightly infestation for you!