How to Get Rid of Scales on Plants
- 1). Spray the stems or undersides of leaves with an insecticide containing carbaryl or malathion in the spring. During this time scale insects have not developed their waxy shells that prevent insecticides from harming them. Scale insects are mobile at this time and known as crawlers.
- 2). Wrap double-sided sticky tape onto a branch above a crawler infestation. Crawlers that walk across the tape will be trapped.
- 3). Spray the stems or undersides of plant leaves where scale insects feed with a horticulture oil in summer. During this time scale insects have developed a hard waxy coating that insecticides cannot penetrate. Horticulture oils will smother scale insects.