Think my juniper is sick (PICS)?

[matt94gt]

Hi,

I think my juniper is getting sick. The other week I noticed that the greenery looked kinda "dull" and the tips were slightly red looking. I wasnt sure if its due to the fact its now outside 24/7 and has full morning and afternoon sun (rooftop patio). Or if its due to the random weather and rain we have been experiencing here on the westcoast of Canada. Cold, snowing, warm, raining etc.

Then I started to inspect it closer and found little white dots, which I assumed after some research to be spider mites. Although I could not locate any webs or bugs at all. I went out and got some insecticide which apparently is ok for fruit trees so I thought it would be fairly mild. I have sprayed it twice with this so far.

Here are some photos of the tips and white dots (eggs?).

So what can I do to help out my tree? As well what can I do in the future to prevent this and keep the foliage nice and green like it was when I first got it?! Some say every few sprayings spray with a drop of dishsoap in the water? I do fertilize with a liquid fertilizer when I do need to water, but in the rainy season it gets plenty naturally so I dont tend to fertilize it as much.

Thanks in advance!

 

[october]

It looks like white juniper scale. I would suggest using a horticultural oil.

Rob

 

[Beng]

Bifen or Safari would knock them out.

 

[matt94gt]

It looks like white juniper scale. I would suggest using a horticultural oil.

Rob

So you think there is nothing to be worried about?

Is there a brand you recommend, where would I get it?

 

[Beng]

Hi,

I think my juniper is getting sick. The other week I noticed that the greenery looked kinda "dull" and the tips were slightly red looking. I wasnt sure if its due to the fact its now outside 24/7 and has full morning and afternoon sun (rooftop patio). Or if its due to the random weather and rain we have been experiencing here on the westcoast of Canada. Cold, snowing, warm, raining etc.

Then I started to inspect it closer and found little white dots, which I assumed after some research to be spider mites. Although I could not locate any webs or bugs at all. I went out and got some insecticide which apparently is ok for fruit trees so I thought it would be fairly mild. I have sprayed it twice with this so far.

Here are some photos of the tips and white dots (eggs?).

So what can I do to help out my tree? As well what can I do in the future to prevent this and keep the foliage nice and green like it was when I first got it?! Some say every few sprayings spray with a drop of dishsoap in the water? I do fertilize with a liquid fertilizer when I do need to water, but in the rainy season it gets plenty naturally so I dont tend to fertilize it as much.

Thanks in advance!

This insecticide isn't rated for Scale.

This ones excellent for scale as it's translocated throughout the plant tissue. http://www.amazon.com/Safari-Insect...1388780418&sr=8-1&keywords=safari+insecticide

Also a good all around insecticide which does kill scale http://www.amazon.com/Bifen-Bifenth...d=1388780465&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=bifen+xt

Horticultural oil may work as well but i've had limited success with it.

 

[october]

So you think there is nothing to be worried about?

Is there a brand you recommend, where would I get it?

Without treating this, the tree will die. I use Bonide brand All Seasons Horticultural oil concentrate. You mix it with a gallon of water. You will have to spray multiple times. Spray once, wait a few weeks, then spray again. Then spray again maybe a month or 2 later. Read all the directions. This treatement is most effective if you pick off all or most of the scale you see first, then spray. A smooth end tooth pic is good for removing them.

I have been dealing with white juniper scale for about 10 years. The horticultural oil works well and is probably the least toxic of all pesticides. However, you will have to spray a couple/few times. Also, scale tends to come back. You might have to spray each growing season.

Rob

 

[matt94gt]

Can I overspay it? I dont mind spraying I just want my juniper back to the beautiful rich green it once was. Since its winter I dont want to give it a trim, or that would be a good way to get rid of lots of it. I think I will go with an insecticide this time to knock it out, but down the road is the oil a good maintenance?

Down the road would the oil also help against pests etc? And is it a better replacement to the soap mixture I have heard of?

Thanks for your help.

 

[october]

Can I overspay it? I dont mind spraying I just want my juniper back to the beautiful rich green it once was. Since its winter I dont want to give it a trim, or that would be a good way to get rid of lots of it. I think I will go with an insecticide this time to knock it out, but down the road is the oil a good maintenance?

Down the road would the oil also help against pests etc? And is it a better replacement to the soap mixture I have heard of?

Thanks for your help.

I have used the oil and the soap mixture. Both seem to turn some junipers a slightly different shade of green. I think the oil seems to not do it as much as the soap mixture. However, I could be wrong. In either case it is really not that bad . Also, you will need to protect the soil. Put foil or a plastic bag over the soil surface.

For insects, you usually treat when they appear and not as a preventative. Also, if you use the stuff you showed, if it does not mention scale, then you might be wasting a spraying. Also, you do not know how it will affect the tree. You might want to spray a small part of the back of the tree and wait a day. However, don't wait too much longer. It looks like the scale might have done some damage. At this point, it might take growing season to recover

Since it's winter, this tree will not return to a healthy green until April or so. One more thing. Trees that have been sprayed should be kept out of the sun, especially Sumemr sun, for a few days. However, it is Winter so it shouldn't be a problem. Also, after a couple of days, I would thoroughly hose the pesticide off the tree. Once again, protecting the soil from the run off.

Rob

 

[october]

p.s. This tree needs to have a cold period. It needs to go through through a gradual temp and light change so it can enter dormancy naturally. This tree needs to be outside in Spring, Summer and Fall. In Winter, if the temps in your area are in the 20's to 40's. It can probably stay outside year round. Depriving this tree of dormancy will slowly weaken it and eventually kill it. Also, I assume you will be spraying outside and not in.

Rob

 

[matt94gt]

Yes I keep it outside 24/7. You mean cover the soil just when and after spraying so the run off doesn't go info the soil? Or to protect from excessive rain?

I went to a local shop and spoke with someone very knowledgeable, they told me to get some horticulture oil and it should take care of my problem with 1 or 2 treatments. Then to take a toothbrush to clear off the scale when it dries. It appears to be "brown scale" after some googling of images and this oil says it treats it.

I have hosed and rinsed off all the foliage to get that insecticide off. I was sure to tip the plant so none of the runoff goes into the soil. I will treat it tomorrow with the oil.

 

[october]

Yes I keep it outside 24/7. You mean cover the soil just when and after spraying so the run off doesn't go info the soil? Or to protect from excessive rain?

I went to a local shop and spoke with someone very knowledgeable, they told me to get some horticulture oil and it should take care of my problem with 1 or 2 treatments. Then to take a toothbrush to clear off the scale when it dries. It appears to be "brown scale" after some googling of images and this oil says it treats it.

I have hosed and rinsed off all the foliage to get that insecticide off. I was sure to tip the plant so none of the runoff goes into the soil. I will treat it tomorrow with the oil.

Yes, you can use foil or plastic or whatever prevents the pesticide from getting into the soil. After a couple of hours, just remove the cover. Also, rain should not be a problem because after spraying, the tree needs to be kept out of the rain. If not, the pesticide washes off and you have sprayed for nothing. Also, scale cannot be washed off. They can only be removed by taking them off or when they die and flake off. Live scale tend to bleed and are tough to remove. Dead scale just flake off. After you spray, if you go to remove them, they will just flake off.

Personally, I used to use the toothpick removal method. However, it can be really tedious trying to remove all of them. Now, if it is bad, I just remove the scale with a smooth edge toothpick in the heavily infested areas on the tree, then spray. If it is not a bad infestation, I spray without removing.

Rob

 

[matt94gt]

Yes, you can use foil or plastic or whatever prevents the pesticide from getting into the soil. After a couple of hours, just remove the cover. Also, rain should not be a problem because after spraying, the tree needs to be kept out of the rain. If not, the pesticide washes off and you have sprayed for nothing. Also, scale cannot be washed off. They can only be removed by taking them off or when they die and flake off. Live scale tend to bleed and are tough to remove. Dead scale just flake off. After you spray, if you go to remove them, they will just flake off.

Personally, I used to use the toothpick removal method. However, it can be really tedious trying to remove all of them. Now, if it is bad, I just remove the scale in the heavily infested areas on the tree, then spray. If it is not a bad infestation, I spray without removing.

Rob

Thanks for your help. As you can see in my picture its not too bad. Im hoping a blast with the horticulture oil will do it. Im going to spray it in the morning, then again in two weeks you think?

 

[october]

Thanks for your help. As you can see in my picture its not too bad. Im hoping a blast with the horticulture oil will do it. Im going to spray it in the morning, then again in two weeks you think?

Sounds good.

Rob