Question
QUESTION: I have 3 Krauter Vesuvius in East County of San Diego. One of the tree's wood is covered in scale. The trees are just beginning to flower. What should I do? thanks

ANSWER: Provided this is a flowering plum and you are not going to eat it, I would go buy Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub insecticide from Home Depot.  Mix according to label directions and pour around the base of the trees.  The active ingredient is systemic and will be taken up by the trees and kill the scale insects.  It will provide control for up to 6-8 months.  Hope this helps.  Good Luck.

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QUESTION: Thanks for your advice!--Could you perhaps tell me what is causing the scale (we have terrible ant problems here) and am I going to have to keep this up every 8 mos--or is there a cure--or a prevention?? thanks!

Answer
The ants are there because of the scale.  Ants form a relationship with those sucking inscts like scale and aphids that release honeydew when they feed.  The ants are there for the sugar.  If you can get rid of the scale, the ants will probably go away as well.  As how to totally eliminate scale insects, I do not know.  One thing is for sure---- where you are there is no winter, so the bugs do not have to overwinter and are constantly reproducing and coming back.  The Bayer Insecticide should provide long term control and the scale, who are feeders of comfort, meaning that if you keep disrupting their feeding, may move on to someone else's plant.  You might consult Google for the life cycle of scale insects and find out if there is some particular point in their life cycle that you can perform some operation that would discourage them from hanging around.  This is about the best I can come up with, being a plant pathologist.  I wish you Good Luck.