Scale on Lime tree

[P924]

Does anyone have a good method for removing scale from a lime tree?

I've sprayed with with an oil/soap mix, which I'm hoping will help, but its quite badly infested.

Thankfully they all look very young.

[Simpo Two]

Sacle insects are hard to treat because they're protected by the waxy shell/cuticle. Maybe a systemic insecticide, so that the critters cop it from the other side as they eat?

[P924]

true, but I would like to eat the limes.

[Simpo Two]

Insecticides have a time after which you can eat the crop. Like everything else, they eventually break down/are metabolised. Have a look through the products in your local garden centre. Soap is not going to touch them, only clean them.

Or you could squash them by hand if not too numerous?

[P924]

Thats a good point. Maybe remove this years fruit, and let the tree grow itself, and use a 'proper' insecticide.

Thanks Simpo.

[Puggit]

Limescale?

[Simpo Two]

Very good!

I should think Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner would do it as well...


But maybe the toughest critter of all is the vine weevil. I squashed one and flushed it down the bog. Next morning he'd swum back up and when I fished him out in disbelief, he came back to life. I was so impressed I let him go back to the wild. He's probably eating my garage right now.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 27th August 10:14

[P924]

Vine weevel look so evil as well.

[HiRich]

P924 said:

Thats a good point. Maybe remove this years fruit, and let the tree grow itself, and use a 'proper' insecticide.

Thanks Simpo.

Was thinking of the other sort of Lime Tree.

Anyway, I'd do this, but mix from concentrate & add the soft soap (Johnson's Baby Shampoo) to the mix, or pre-spray - the latter breaks down the coating, allowing the former to do its job properly.
I've found Provado Ultimate Bug Killer to be particularly effective on 'difficult' bugs. Repeat sprayings, then pick the las of the blighters off, and let the insecticide clear the system over the winter. Next year, apply a food-safe insecticide as a deterrent.

[Simpo Two]

Amazing - Bayer actually do a vine weevil killer as well (although the active ingredient is exactly the same as Ultimate Bug Killer of Doom:

http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/products/category.asp...

[Simpo Two]

Well I just bought some Ultimate Bug Killer of Doom (£4.99) to try to deal with what I think is spider mite on my cotoneaster. They start at the ends of each branch and kill off the leaves remarkably quickly - all I can see is very fine web and lots of little black dots under the leaves.

NB: to the OP - the product does have edible crops clearance.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 27th August 16:44