Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 186 6/5/17 3:11 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 187 5/24/17 12:18 PM

186 chapter 4

Scales (many species)

North American geographical range: All

Identification: There are both soft and hard scales.

Both feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts and

may have a hard, armor-like shell. Many species

look like raised bumps on twigs, leaves, and leaf

petioles, though some species look like small,

white flecks. Some species may also be covered in

a downy fuzz, and most excrete sticky honeydew,

which is evident as a shiny, sticky layer on

infested plants.

Plants affected: Most species of scale feed on

a specific species or group of species, of plants.

Common hosts include: magnolia, pachysandra,

fruit trees, dogwood, lilac, birch, euonymus, holly,

citrus, boxwood, and many others.

Feeding habits and damage: Heavy scale

infestations may cause stunted growth and yellow

foliage. Stems and branches may be weakened as

well. Often wasps and ants are found on plants

with a scale infestation, as both of these insects

feed on the sticky honeydew excreted by certain

species of scale.

Physical controls: Large species of scale can be

crushed by running your fingers down the length

of an infested branch and crushing the insects as

you go. Scale reproduces more quickly on over-

fertilized plants, so don’t overfeed. Some scales

can be eliminated by wiping them with a cotton

ball or square soaked in isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

Product controls: Because of the hard, armor-like

shell on many species of scale, control can be

difficult. Some species are in a soft, crawler life

stage for a few weeks each year, when it is the

best time to try to control them. But, each species

of scale enters its crawler stage at a different

time, so a bit of research is required. Effective

products include insecticidal soap, horticultural

oil, and neem.

Scales can be hard or soft, and they may have a hard,

armor-like shell like this one. But regardless of their

appearance, all scales feed by sucking out plant juices.

Azalea scale looks like white tufts of cotton along the

length of the branches of azalea plants. Physically

removing the scale insects on this plant is a good

control method, as is a well-timed application of

horticultural oil.

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Troubleshooting 187

Slugs/Snails (several species)

North American geographical range: All

Identification: Slugs and snails are land mollusks

and can be gray, black, orange, brown, tan, or

yellow. Snails have exterior shells; slugs do not.

Both excrete a slimy coating to protect themselves

and on which they glide. Their telltale slime trails

are often the first clue to their presence. Both

slugs and snails feed largely at night, but they also

come out on overcast or rainy days.

Plants affected: Nearly all young seedlings are

susceptible, as well as numerous flowering plants

and vegetables, including lettuce, tomatoes,

strawberries, hosta, and many others.

Feeding habits and damage: Both slugs and snails

have a mouth lined with tiny teeth that shred

plant material in a cheese-grater-like fashion.

They leave irregular holes in leaves, along the

margin, or in the center. Often this culprit isn’t

present during the day, so inspect plants at night.

Physical controls: Many different creatures dine

on slugs, so encourage birds, snakes, salamanders,

frogs, toads, turtles, and ground beetles. Water

only in the morning to discourage nighttime

feeding on wet foliage. Copper strips placed

around susceptible plants deliver a mild shock to

slugs (the slime reacts to contact with copper).

Handpick any you find and toss them into a cup

of soapy water. Saucers of beer work to trap slugs,

too, but they should be emptied daily.

Product controls: Do not use baits containing

metaldehyde or methiocarb. These products are

highly toxic to pets and other wildlife. Instead,

sprinkle iron phosphate-based baits around plants.

Most troublesome slug species are not native to North

America; they’re European introductions. Their mouths

are lined with tiny teeth that quickly shred plant

material and consume it.

Firefly larvae are major predators of young slugs and

slug eggs. If you have a lawn, you can encourage

them by not filling in low-lying, damp areas or using

lawn pesticides.

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