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Soft Scale, Everywhere!

Resources: Tree Problems

Soft Scale
Photo credit: Chazz Hesselein, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Bugwood.org

Our arborists are seeing a lot of soft scale on clients’ properties this July. Because of the mild winter and wet spring, soft scale populations are higher than usual and are causing problems for many homeowners.

Scale is a general term to describe a group of tiny insects that attach themselves to trees and shrubs to feed off of the sap the plants produce. The two main types of tree scale are armored scale and soft scale.

Soft scale, which we will be covering in this article, are often round or oval and 1/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Soft scale, unlike armored scale, produce honeydew – a sap-like substance we’ve talked about before. If left untreated scale populations can get worse year after year and severely damage your tree over time.

Signs & Symptoms of Soft Scale

  • leaf yellowing
  • stunted growth
  • dieback
  • raised bumps on twigs and branches
  • honeydew
  • sooty mold
  • premature leaf drop

Soft Scale Common to the DC Metro Area

A variety of different soft scales are common throughout the DC Metro Area. Below we’ve outlined the most common and have included pictures to help you spot Soft Scale on your trees and shrubs.

Azalea Bark Scale

Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series , Bugwood.org

Azalea Bark Scale, Eriococcus azaleas, was discovered in 1881 and is a major yearly pest for Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Huckleberries. Although the pest usually does not kill the host tree, it causes aesthetic damage, weakens the tree, and can cause honeydew and sooty mold to develop.

Targets: Azaleas, Rhododendron, Huckleberry, Andromeda, Hawthorn, Popular, & Willow.

Learn more about Azalea Bark Scale

Lecanium Scale

James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Lecanium scale is a group of common soft scale insects that feed on the sap from shade trees and woody ornamentals. If left uncontrolled, one or two major infestations can kill your tree.

Currently, these insects are in their crawler stage feeding on the sap of the tree’s leaves. They will stay in this stage throughout the summer damaging your trees. As fall approaches, the scale will move back to the branches and develop a protective shell. In this stage, they are brown and turtle-shaped about 1/6-1/8 inch in size.

Targets: Maples, Oaks, Linden, and Birch.  

Learn more about Lecanium Scale

Cottony Camellia Scale

  • Adult Scale.
    Photo Credit: United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs , USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
  • Eggs.
    Photo Credit:Eric R. Day, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org

Also known as Cottony Taxus scale, Cottony Camellia Scale is a soft scale that creates a lot of honeydew which often leads to sooty mold. Although the pest usually does not kill the host tree, it causes aesthetic damage and weakens the tree making it susceptible to other deadly diseases and insects.

Targets: camellia, holly, yew, euonymus, sweetbox, maple, beautyberry, jasmine, mulberry, and hydrangea.

Managing Soft Scale Infestations

Prevention: Scale, like most insects, is more likely to feed on stressed trees. Maintaining the health and vigor of your trees can help protect against scale infestation.  You can maintain the health of your tree through routine pruning, bio-stimulant applications, and seasonal sprays.

Treatment: Although Scale can be damaging and hard to get rid of, professional Arborists can help stop them in their tracks and prevent them from destroying your trees & shrubs through a specialized treatment program. Specialized treatment programs will most likely include horticulture oils or insecticides and will be tailored to the type of scale infestation, your landscape, and other factors.

Natural Treatment: One of the more interesting and eco-friendly treatments to combat scale is to use beneficial insects to combat the infestation or to stop it from reoccurring next year.

If you think your trees might have some type of soft scale, we can help! Call us at 703.573.3029 to book an appointment or book through our online booking program.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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