Horrendous scale infestation.

Sorry for my ignorance.......

but what is scale infestation??
What caused it?

what do I do about it? Is the rest of the plant doomed?

ughhhh......

Scale are insects. They suck on the plant juices, thus weakening the bush/plant.

Your shrub is so heavily infested you'd be wise to remove it, then replace with a fresh healthy shrub.

Because euonymus is so very susceptible to scale, I'd suggest you obtain a different kind of shrub.

Thanks for responding....

I did a little bit of research on the internet, but had just a few follow up questions:

1. As you can see in the picture, we have two other Euonymus next to the "infected" one. How do I prevent them from getting infested with scale? Are there any sprays to apply to them to prevent scale?

2. Can the scale "jump" or get to the other Euonymus?

3. I usually Wilt-Pruf in the fall. I negelected to last year. Does Wilt-Pruf help prevent the scale?

4. If we decide to pull it out, does anyone have a suggestion for a replacement bush? As you can see in the picture, we have two other Euonymus next to the "infected" one......this bed is to the right of our front door, directly under a large picture window. The only thing it is the Euonynus and the little Christmas tree (cant remember the name of it) next to the steps.
Any ideas?
I dont think we will pull out the other Euonymus, unless they get infected too.

Thanks for the help.

That just might be the finest scale infestation I've ever seen! Surely, there must be some kind of award for that, lol!

I'd be willing to bet that your other euonymus have scale, too. Have you taken a good look on the underside of the foliage and along the interior stems?

Havent inspected the others yet. Been raining all week in CT.
If I get home during daylight tonight, I will take a look.

Can anyone answer the questions I posted above?

Yup.....my award is more dead landscaping. I think I just might rip everything out and put in pavers. UGH!

I'd take out all of your nearby Euonymus and replace them
with some other shrub. You will have to pull the other (2) shrubs eventually. Euonymus scale is that pervasive.

I've had to pull (3) Euonymus too.

On a better note, I've seen variegated Boxwood that looks quite similar to your Euonymus.

Something similar would probably make good replacement shrubs for you.

As to your other questions ...

I don't think that Wilt Pruf would have any effect one way or the other.

Euonymus scale is probably the worst pest problem I've ever had with a shrub. I really don't understand why the industry still sells them.

By the way, your little Christmas Tree is probably a dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Dwarf Alberta spruce is also a bug magnet. Nurseries also produce quantities of trees and shrubs that are weeds in markets receiving and dispersing the stock. Nothing novel about this. Commerce is not inherently devoted to the public interest, but rather the bottom line. That is the fundamental flaw in privatization. Growers will stop producing and distributing problematic plants (rootbound, pest suceptible, weedy etc.) when the market rejects them or the government steps in.

mrmichael, scale insect don't 'jump', but can move during the time in their life cycle (just after hatching) in which they are looking for a suitable feeding site. I presume that they can travel from plant to plant via wind, water, animals, and humans, too.

A common means of control of scale is the use of horticultural oils. Visit your local garden centers to find out what's available. Oil applications smother scale. But that one shrub is too far gone to make it worthwhile, in my opinion. Best for a infestation caught early.

Wilt Pruf is not labeled for use as a pesticide. Best to use a product with that intent, so that you can follow some specific directions.

Thanks to everyone for their help this far......

I was gonna try some horticultural oil to see if I could save the plant....but I didn't have a chance to stop by the store on the way home.

But in my garage I still had some Orthonex Garden Insect and Disease Control liquid left over from a few years back....so I said what the heck.
I loaded up the Dial Sprayer and soaked down all 3 Euonymus with it. Man, that stuff stinks!

Well, I guess I'l see what happens.
If it doesn't save the infested one, I hope it prevents scale on the other two....

thanks.

Neem oil is another name used for horticultural oil controlling Euonymus scale. Good luck...I've got them suckers too.