How do I control citrus scales on my Pixie trees?
Hello and welcome to the Echo community!
As for your question: first you need to ask yourself another question: why are they here? Pests show some problem in your system.
- maybe citrus don’t fit in your area or climate
- maybe you have planted too many or too densely
- Citrus trees like a little (but not too much) shade and wind protection.
- maybe you’re not developing a well functioning ecosystem and should plant many other plants as well, together with encouraging beneficial insects and birds to move in and take care of your pest problem
- maybe the citrus trees lack certain nutrients, or are overfertilized. Citrus trees don’t like fresh manure, so try other kinds of organic fertilizers.
- maybe the citrus tree have been watered wrongly. They like deep watering and then some time for the soil to dry up again.
- etc.
After asking yourself all these (and other) questions, improving your ecosystem and wait a little for the ecosystem to balance itself out, if you still have a problem, there are a couple of options:
- making a lime ring around the stem of your citrus trees will prevent ants from climbing up. Ants protect the citrus scale from predators, so if you prevent ants, predators will more easily feed on and reduce the pests.
- Another organic short term help is making soap spray. It will cover and deprive the scales from oxygen, killing them.
As much as possible, refrain from using pesticides. They only reset the system, but don’t resolve anything.
I hope that gives you some hints on what to do. Many blessings!
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