Fruit and trees

[therron]

I have a couple of fruit trees and some ornamental trees that are not doing well. The trees are covered with black ants and when the oranges flower and set, the set falls off after a couple of days. A farmer told me I may have scale. I also have a ornamental tree that leaks quite a bit and also has black ants all over it. How can I fix my problem with scale? or whatever is the problem?

[Newt]

Hi Therron,

Sounds like your farmer friend is on the right track. I suspect you either have scale or aphids. The ants harvest the waste material called honeydew. You really need to id which you have as the treatment is different and the application of horticultural oil for scale needs to be timed correctly.

When you say that your ornamental tree "leaks quite a bit", do you mean from the crown of the tree or from the trunk? If it's from the crown, it could be the same pest. Do you know what type of tree it is?

I would suggest you get a close look at the leaves of the trees in question and see if you can give a description of what you see. Take at look at this site first and see if you can tell if it's aphids or scale. It would be the first two links.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_Citrus_Pests_Insects

Newt

[therron]

I haven't seen any aphids at all. The ornamental tree is leaking from the leaves. Its a sticky dew substance. The leaves are very sticky too. I'm not sure what kind of tree it is. You mentioned a oil for a cure, what do you suggest?

[Newt]

So did any of the pictures look like anything on the trees? The horticultural oil is for the scales. You really need to know your enemy before you treat.

Newt

[atthistime]

Hi all! Do any of you have flowering crab. I would like to know if there is anything that I can do to keep the leaves from looking stressed and falling off prematurely. They get spotted or rusty and drop way too soon. Is there a spray or systemic Ican use?

[Newt]

Hi Atthistime,

Sounds like some type of rust. Take a look here to see if that is what you have going on. You can always search at www.google.com for pictures of the different ones.

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/homegr...s/20aprust.htm

I don't agree with their recommendations of fungicides. Here's some that are more environmentally friendly.

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=204

Newt

[atthistime]

Thanks Newt!
Your links were very helpful.

[Newt]

You're very welcome! :) Glad that was helpful.

Newt