posted
I have a lemon tree that is ailing. It has some type of horrible scale and a gazillion white flies. The ants seem to be tending the scale, which appears near the stem of the fruit. I have cut back many branches that have infected fruit. Any suggestion on how to rid the rest of this tree from it's pest? BTW, it is right next to my towering Paulownia tree that Weezie so nicely identified for me.
jc2weho
* * * * Plants: 409 | From: Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills | Registered: Oct 2003
| Seeded: 63.205.45.159
posted
Hi JC, I went back and did a forum search (top of the page, you'll see 5 things in a row, middle one is forum search, type in Aphids, you'll get about 15 of them, Alot of people offer advise on them, Here's one that had some good info, actually they all did. aphid discussion
Also, Bill our Gardening Guru here, has alot of info on them in the T.G.H. web pages here. Go to very top and do a GARDEN SEARCH. Many articles will come up for you...
Please let us know how you made out.
Do you get lemons on that tree??? I visited California twice and that is one of my fondest memories of out there where the lemon tree orchard's.... Oh my gosh, the smell, I can still smell it, we were on a motorcycle on a hot day, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm the fresh clean smell of lemons in the air. Ooh!!! And the Magnolia's that's the other........ I drove on a street called Magnolia Ave in Riverside and the sweet smell is so delicious!!!!
Anyhow, hope that other info is helpful. Keep us posted!!! Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Hi JC, In my experience with white flies the soapy water seems to work the best. Coat the plant in water mixed with dish soap and really let it soak in. Then give it a good rinsing with the hose to wash the buggers away. I also cut off the really affected areas, which are usually the flowers. White flies are notorius for loving hibiscus and since I have 4 of those I have had to do battle.
I don't know if ladybugs like white flies but I know they love aphids and thrips. They sell them by the bag at Home Depot. Garlic is a good deterent for aphids, they don't like the smell. So you might want to plant some around your garden to keep more from moving in.
Good luck. I hate little buggies that try to kill what you have been giving such TLC to... mean ol'bugs.
Weezie, I almost forgot to add... we have a Sunkist factory a few blocks from work and when the wind blows just right all you can smell is the sweet smell of oranges. I love driving by there.
* * * * Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Plants: 766 | From: The real OC in sunny So. Cal. | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 216.114.206.2
posted
I swear, I'll never forget that smell..... It's awesome. Nothing like that here, hay maybe or fresshly cut lawns. But the smell of warm citris in the air!! Oh, Yummmmmmmmmmm!! Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
You are not alone with the scales problem. Four of my Kumquats were infested with scales this past spring. I used my own homemade spray.
Scales:
Scales are sucking insect that feed on the plant's sap. They produce honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants. They may be brown, reddish or gray, sometimes covered with waxy material.
Few things you can do:
Remove and destroy the scales. Wear protective gloves and (1)scrape the scales with your nail/or nail file or (2) rub them using (kithen) scouring pads or (3) or use light oil spray to smother adult scale and their eggs.
Whiteflies:
Whiteflies like Aphids weaken the plants by sucking the juices from the leaves. They also secrete honeydew that attracts ants.
Few things you can do:
(1) Spray the leaves with strong burst of water. This will scare the whiteflies away and also remove some of the honeydew that comes in contact with the water. (2) Hang a yellow cardboard covered with sticky substance (available at most garden centers). Yellow color attracts whiteflies, the sticky substance traps them. (3) Use insecticidal soap spray. (40 Avoid using nitrogen fertilizer.
Wait a while, others will come along and give you proven solutions.
* * * *
Amor est vitae essentia. Love is the essence of life. Plants: 932 | From: Northern California, Zone 9b | Registered: Jul 2003
| Seeded: 198.81.26.49
posted
This is just from experience but....for Hibiscus whiteflies I used the soap and water and then put a systemic down that didn't seem to work until the next year but it did help!!! For aphids...I put soap and water in a little squirt bottle and spray everytime I see them and then in a couple hours wash it off.
Also what seems to work really well for all those sucking little buggers is to lay a layer of diazinon and sprinkle it with water (be careful with animals, poisonous). This cuts down on the ants that milk the little buggers.
What lead me to do this was when I put a ladybug on the branch with the aphids the ants came and were attacking the ladybug......so I had to rescue the poor thing and put her somewhere else. Get rid of the ants!!!! Spray the tree with soap and water...hose off...and then put Diazinon powder around the base of tree and sprinkle with water just enough to moisten it. This gave a chance for the lady bugs to come in and help clean up the rest of them I missed.
Just from my experience
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
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