Crape Myrtle Pest and a Bigger Issue Newsletter<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Subscribe](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.6565.img.jpg\")
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Newsletter<\/strong><\/span><\/font>\n <\/p>\nCrape Myrtle Pest and a Bigger Issue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThere is a big push to plant crape myrtles in the city of McKinney, Texas these days, and in other cities as well. They are beautiful trees and unless they are overused, they will be an asset to the landscape.<\/p>\n
The landscape industry is finally helping with crape myrtle management by stopping the cutting back of the tops of crape myrtles in the winter. This tree butchery is a silly waste of time (same goes for other trees) and it is actually bad for the flower production. It should go without saying that the structure of the tree is ruined by ‘topping” back the trees. Even the seed pods should be left. They are decorative and the seeds feed the small birds.<\/p>\n
The new pest (if it\u2019s been around before, I missed it) is a white scale known to many as the Florida wax scale. Here is some information on it:
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Florida_Wax_Scale-crape-myrtle-topic.jpg\")
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Common Name<\/b>: Florida Wax Scale (Ceroplastes floridensis<\/i>).<\/p>\n
Common Hosts<\/b>: Crape myrtle, deodar cedar, elms, hollies, loblolly pine, oaks and other hardwoods and softwoods.<\/p>\n
Description<\/b>: The adult is approximately 3 mm wide; circular, raised, dirty white to pinkish with a wax cover. The nymphs are smaller and star shaped.<\/p>\n
Importance<\/b>: Severe infestations may result in shoot or branch dieback.<\/p>\n
Signs of Infestation<\/b>: Foliage discoloration and shoot dieback. Soft waxy domes adhering to leaves, shoots and trunks. Sooty mold is often present as the result of scale.<\/p>\n
Control<\/b>: Promote tree vigor and health and approved organic insecticide for infested trees. Best choices would include PureGro Bug Stop, horticultural oil or any quality essential oil product and spinosad. Apply the Sick Tree Treatment<\/a> for long term control. The shiny black lady bug with two red spots on the back will also help and should be protected.<\/p>\nSoft Wax Scale (Ceroplastes destructor<\/i>) is a similar pest. This scale attack has apparently been fairly common, but I had trouble finding an example. Finally, I found one and once again the tree was too deep in the ground, partially because of the flower bed built under it. The scale can be killed with most of the organic pest control products, but getting the root flare exposed is the real solution.<\/p>\n
The most common cause of the insect attacks is that the trunk flare is completely buried. Almost all newly planted crape myrtles are planted too deep in the ground. They need to be planted with the flare well above the ground. If it\u2019s too late, the soil should be removed with the air spade<\/a>. Homeowners can do the work, if they are very careful, with gently running water and a shop vac. A stiff brush like a horse brush will also work.<\/p>\nThis is what the flare should look like on a crape myrtle.<\/p>\n
![\"content_img.10900.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.10900.img.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Here is the basic information on crape myrtle<\/a> from my Texas Trees Book<\/a>.<\/p>\nIf you have any questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in Sunday 8am -11am central time to the The Natural Way – Dirt Doctor Radio Show<\/a>. Listen on the internet or find a station in your area. The phone number for the show is 1-866-444-3478<\/a>.<\/p>\nPlease share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.<\/p>\nNaturally yours,<\/p>\n
![\"content_img.7396.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.7396.img.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Howard Garrett<\/p>\n
Click Here to View Past Newsletters<\/font><\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Newsletter<\/strong><\/span><\/font>\n <\/p>\n Crape Myrtle Pest and a Bigger Issue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n There is a big push to plant crape myrtles in the city of McKinney, Texas these days, and in other cities as well. They are beautiful trees and unless they are overused, they will be an asset to the landscape.<\/p>\n The landscape industry is finally helping with crape myrtle management by stopping the cutting back of the tops of crape myrtles in the winter. This tree butchery is a silly waste of time (same goes for other trees) and it is actually bad for the flower production. It should go without saying that the structure of the tree is ruined by ‘topping” back the trees. Even the seed pods should be left. They are decorative and the seeds feed the small birds.<\/p>\n The new pest (if it\u2019s been around before, I missed it) is a white scale known to many as the Florida wax scale. Here is some information on it: Common Name<\/b>: Florida Wax Scale (Ceroplastes floridensis<\/i>).<\/p>\n Common Hosts<\/b>: Crape myrtle, deodar cedar, elms, hollies, loblolly pine, oaks and other hardwoods and softwoods.<\/p>\n Description<\/b>: The adult is approximately 3 mm wide; circular, raised, dirty white to pinkish with a wax cover. The nymphs are smaller and star shaped.<\/p>\n Importance<\/b>: Severe infestations may result in shoot or branch dieback.<\/p>\n Signs of Infestation<\/b>: Foliage discoloration and shoot dieback. Soft waxy domes adhering to leaves, shoots and trunks. Sooty mold is often present as the result of scale.<\/p>\n Control<\/b>: Promote tree vigor and health and approved organic insecticide for infested trees. Best choices would include PureGro Bug Stop, horticultural oil or any quality essential oil product and spinosad. Apply the Sick Tree Treatment<\/a> for long term control. The shiny black lady bug with two red spots on the back will also help and should be protected.<\/p>\n Soft Wax Scale (Ceroplastes destructor<\/i>) is a similar pest. This scale attack has apparently been fairly common, but I had trouble finding an example. Finally, I found one and once again the tree was too deep in the ground, partially because of the flower bed built under it. The scale can be killed with most of the organic pest control products, but getting the root flare exposed is the real solution.<\/p>\n The most common cause of the insect attacks is that the trunk flare is completely buried. Almost all newly planted crape myrtles are planted too deep in the ground. They need to be planted with the flare well above the ground. If it\u2019s too late, the soil should be removed with the air spade<\/a>. Homeowners can do the work, if they are very careful, with gently running water and a shop vac. A stiff brush like a horse brush will also work.<\/p>\n This is what the flare should look like on a crape myrtle.<\/p>\n Here is the basic information on crape myrtle<\/a> from my Texas Trees Book<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you have any questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in Sunday 8am -11am central time to the The Natural Way – Dirt Doctor Radio Show<\/a>. Listen on the internet or find a station in your area. The phone number for the show is 1-866-444-3478<\/a>.<\/p>\n Please share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.<\/p>\n Naturally yours,<\/p>\n Howard Garrett<\/p>\n Click Here to View Past Newsletters<\/font><\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Join<\/strong><\/em><\/font><\/span><\/a><\/span> the Organic Club of America.<\/span> <\/span><\/font><\/strong><\/em><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Membership supports <\/font><\/span><\/b>TORC<\/font>.<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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