Help me save my Sand Cherry tree!

[ccreight]

Hi there, I'm not a very knowledgeable gardener and I'm hoping for some insite here. I recently noticed that my purple leaf sand cherry tree has attracted some very unsavoury type of flying insect - I've never seen these before. So upon taking a closer look at my tree, I noticed a lot of white and black "bumps" along the bark. Otherwise, the tree looks healthy and has been blooming. Anyone know what these are and if it's something I should be concerned about? How do I go about saving my tree? Thanks again so much for all your input!

[Eeyore]

You've got scale, which is quite common. Scale is difficult to treat since it usually has a hard shell which resists predators. However it looks as though yours have not developed the hard shell yet and you may be able to control them with insecticidal soap or wiping them off with a gloved hand.

[kelly_m]

Aphids like sandcherries too...but the advice is the same.....insecticidal soap! Safer's is a good brand, but there are others out there...No worries. Easy to control.

[Ian66]

I agree that you have scales on your tree.....insecticidal soap will not kill them since the insect is being protected by a waxy shell....

Here is how to kill them and save your tree.....

Mix 40 parts water with 8 parts rubbing alcohol and 1 part dish soap.....spray the tree, making sure that you soak the scales well (do this on a cloudy day or when the sun is not intense) ....wait 15 to 20 minutes and wash the scales off with a garden hose at full force to dislodge the scales......
The alcohol melts the waxy coating of the scale and will allow the dish soap to penetrate and kill the scale.......you may have to repeat the spray procedure .....

This formula works very well on all scales especially on the large Magnolia scales.....

Ian

[Heidi S]

I have had to use the rubbing alcohol treatment on my Phalenopsis orchids which came down with scale last fall. However, I scraped them off first, then sprayed the plants to kill any lurkers. That is a significant infestation you have on that sand cherry!

[ccreight]

Thanks everyone for your input! I will try the alcohol mixture, scraping, thenmaybe I'll use the insecticidal soap at the end for good measure! I'll keep you posted!

[Eeyore]

I would wait on the insecticidal soap. The alcohol mixture should kill of aphids too and using insecticidal soap after the alcohol would be doubling the dosages.