Story by Rawson Services Editor / November 26, 2018
Rawson Services, Charleston’s premier tree service provider, reminds you that there are pests aplenty that can do damage to your trees, including common critters known as Scales. But there are steps you can take to lessen their effects and, if necessary, contain and correct their damage.
But first, an entomology lesson!
Scales are sap-suckers that attach themselves to the twigs, leaves, branches and fruits of your trees. Spotting Scales will depend on which variety you have:
Armored: the armor is a hard, lacquered covering they secrete to cover their bodies – but the armor is not attached. Armored scales are spherical in shape and do not move.
Soft: These secrete a waxy film that IS part of the body. Soft scales CAN move, but rarely do. They can be spherical or flat. And soft scales produce a sticky-sweet substance (which ants LOVE) called honeydew.
This honeydew can lead to the growth of sooty mold. Sooty mold itself is not dangerous to your trees, but it looks awful! You CAN clean it off and you SHOULD, or else it can interfere with photosynthesis and healthy tree growth.
Scale Damage to Trees
According to the Clemson Extension Service, “Scale insects obtain food by sucking vital fluids from the host plant, causing yellowing and possibly stunted growth of the affected leaves or needles. A heavily infested plant will have extensive leaf yellowing, premature leaf drop, and possibly branch dieback. A plant weakened by a scale population is often more susceptible to damage by a secondary pest that may ultimately kill the plant.”
Preventing Scale Damage
Knowledge is key. Because they move rarely or not at all, you might mistake scales for some kind of harmless “skin condition” on your trees, instead of an active pest doing ongoing damage. You may actually see the damage they cause before you notice the scales themselves. So be on the lookout! Spot them and take action.
Correcting Scale Damage
If there are relatively few scales, you can brush or pick them off. There are also chemicals that can remove scales from your trees. If the damage is too great, you may need to call Rawson Services to come and eliminate the damaged parts of the tree in order to save the undamaged parts.
Tree Questions or Concerns? Call Rawson Services!
Your trees are an investment; protecting that investment takes a sharp eye, the right tools, and expert assistance. In Charleston SC, you can count on the skilled, Certified Arborists at Rawson Services to deal with scale infestation. Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate!
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Great service! Randy and the team called ahead to schedule, showed up right on time and did an amazing job. Thanks Rawson!
Task was to cut down and remove huge six foot diameter live oak that had split to the roots and half the tree had hit the ground. Randy and his crew finished most of the job on the first day and cleaned up the remainder the next day. Unbelievably professional and competent crew with top-notch equipment. I recommend his service without qualification.
The Rawson crew is professional, quick and clean. We had them remove four large diseased oaks that were threatening structures on our property. They arrived on time and got right to work on the intricate project.
I had a variety of tree pruning that needed to be done surrounding my home and next to my driveway. Randy and his crew were prompt, courteous and performed expert work around the property. They cleaned up nicely and the entire service was A+. Serious pros.
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