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California Gardening

What to do with olive tree with major scales?

14 years ago

I'm in So Cal and have a fruitless olive tree that's about 7 yrs old. It's about 15' tall and wide. The tree's been growing pretty well for the last few years and has really taken off. I thinned the tree out this past month to allow for more air movement within the tree and prepare for the upcoming winds. I noticed that a few branches have major scale infestations. I'm talking about scales 1/4" in diameter and lots of ants farming the nasty things. I can pick off the ones that I can reach with the ladder, but there are still a lot way up high. So....

1. Is there anything I can do to remove the scales or prevent them from attacking the tree further?

2. The ants (because of the scale) are now living in the tree. I noticed that they seem to have made a nest in the tree trunk itself. Is there anyway I can remove the ants now?

The tree looks healthy, just worried that these pests (scales and ants) will be a determent to the tree if they continue what they're doing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

lali

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Comments (7)

hosenemesis
14 years ago
If you get rid of the ants I believe the tree will be okay. Scale-eating insects will take care of the scale that is out of reach once the ants are not there to protect them. The ants are planting the scale and farming it, so you have to get rid of the ants.

I suspect ant spray is your best bet, but others may chime in with other options.

Renee
jean001
14 years ago
Ant baits usually work best because they take the stuff home to share.

Sprays kill only those you see. Typically, 10% or less of the colony.
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lali
Original Author
14 years ago
What kind of ant bait should I use? I've tried Raid and a couple of other baits (found at home stores) in my kitchen and the ants just ignore those, even if I put the baits in the middle of a lot of ants. Talk about picky ants! Any ideas for particular bait brands that I can try? I'm pretty sure the type of ants that attack my kitchen are the same as those outside.

thanks, lali
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
I have always had good luck with scales using a ultrafine horticultural oil. A thorough spray once a week for three weeks. Ants I kill with a boric acid bait. A commercial made one is called "Terro". Usually without the scales to produce "honey do" the ants will go elsewhere. Al
napapen
14 years ago
I sprinkle Diazion around the tree and cut off the ants. The scale dry up from lack of nurses (ants) It's the only time I use a pesticide. The other is buy sticky paste and put it around the trunk of your tree.

Penny
lali
Original Author
14 years ago
Al/Penny,

Where can I get the items you mentioned above? Are these harmful to kids, pets, birds, etc?
- horticultural oil
- boric acid bait
- diazion

thanks, lali
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
Terro is available from any nursery. Boric acid if you wih to make your own bait as I do is avalible from any pharmacy. Recipes for "ant bait" are found by using searh in the forums. Ultrafine horticulural oil is also at any nursery under one or several brand names. Diazinon is no longer being sold and killing the ants will not cause the death of the scales which do well with or without the help of ants. Boric acid in a trap is not available to anything but ants and horticultural oil is a parafine based oil that works by smothering smothering and is not toxic to kids, pets, or birds. Al

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