Garden Pests

Scales

Description of Insect

Plump looking attacks to stems, hard waxy covering

Description of Damage

Usually does not attack plants but on large numbers can cause damage sucks sap of plants

Causes

LOW BRIX ALERT plant hasn't been fed the proper fertilizer. If you are feeding it a high nitrogen fertilizer, the plant will grow rapidly but will be weak because it does not have all the mineral it needs, thus low Brix.
Soil Problems
- Check PH
- Apply Rock Dust
- Apply Compost
- Apply an Acid Mulch like Azalea Mix
Scales are herded by ants. Ants know when the plant is food for their herds. Control the ants. If the Brix level is low then the plant is food for the insects.

Attacks

Flowers, seedlings, tender plants, fruits and vegetables, almost any plant.

Please see Natural Pest Control Chart for more ways to Control the Scales. Follow instructions , use Number 1 first then if it doesn't work, go on to number 2 etc.

Organic Physical Controls:

Immediate Controls:

Control the ants. Keep the ants from climbing up the plant. Use the following:
1. Food Grade or Garden Grade DE
2. See Ant Control for setting up Ant Cafes.
floating row cover if possible
destroy infested plants if there are too many sick plants. If only one or two I would remove any bad leaves.
To remove scales from ants use any of the following:
1. Use canola Oil, dip a cotton swab into the oil then dab the scales.
2. Spray the plant (scales) will Garlic
3. Spray with Garden or Food Grade DE.
4. You can paint a line of DE around the base of the plants to keep the ants from climbing up and bringing the scales.
Use Tangelfoot as a barrier. Put tape down first the Tangelfoot on top. Do this only as last resort since the tangelfoot is stick and a pain to work with.

Long Term Controls:

Proper Soil Care
Proper Nutrition
1. Raise Brix
Ant Control
Proper Variety

Spray with Seaweed, Fish Emulsion, Nitron A-35, Agri Gro etc. to raise Brix

Try using Invisible Gardeners Superseaweed Brix

Try using Invisible Gardeners Special Rock Dust Blend

Safe Botanicals:

Caffeine will kill most insects on contact provided it is strong enough.
Garlic spray

spray the plant and area around it
Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap
Garden Grade DE available from Nitron or Here
A sample formula for spraying: in a quart water filled near to top add: 5 drops Tabasco sauce 2 drops Dr. Bronners peppermint soap or any natural soap, 2 drops garlic oil or crushed or store bought. Spray on leaves and directly on bug. Test for strength to avoid damage to plants. Avoid beneficials, be pest specific
A good dust mixture is:
1 part Garden or Food Grade DE
1 part Alfalfa meal
1/8 part Cayenne pepper
1 part Coffee Grinds
dust around plants and under leaves, don't water for 24 hrs avoid beneficials, be pest specific

A NOTE ABOUT SOAP:

Do not use soaps that are chemically made or that have strange chemical additives or preservatives. Instead use only natural soap, either citrus or peppermint based or or a mix such as but also try herbal soaps. Use only a very small amount of soap and use only when necessary. for more information on soap From Using Soap to Using Ultra Fine Oil I love using Dr Bronners soaps

Natural Predators