Crape Myrtles certainly are beautiful when they are in full-bloom. Here in Texas, some varieties bloom as early as May, while other types wait until later in the summer with blooms that continue through the fall. There are a couple of very common issues that can deter that beauty, such as aphid and scale. These pests cause a noticeable difference in the aesthetics of your Crape Myrtles, and in severe cases, cause damage that can hinder their growth.
Aphid Damage
Aphids are tiny insects that are known to infect Crape Myrtles and can cause drooping of the leaves, and yellow spots. The waste excreted by the aphids causes the bark to brandish a black mold. They are almost like a mosquito in the way that they eat, as they stick their mouth into the plant and suck out the sap of the tree, which in turn causes the damage that you see.
Scale Damage
Scale is another common pest that is known to cause damage to Crape Myrtles. Scale will cause white “scaly” damage that bleeds a pinkish hue when brushed or penetrated. Typically, this will be found all over the leaves, twigs, and trunks of an infected Crape Myrtle. When left untreated, the end result can also be the black moldy soot that an aphid causes as well.
How to Prevent and Treat Aphid or Scale Damage
One’s initial instinct would be to grab the pesticides and go to town with them on your Crape Myrtles. However, the pesticides that would eliminate aphids and scale would also be harmful to some essential creatures in and around your trees.
Let Aggieland Green take the guesswork out of treating them yourself. We offer a Systemic Insect Treatment to help treat and prevent further activity. The Systemic Insect Treatment is applied to the soil surrounding the root systems of your Crape Myrtles. Your Crape Myrtles will then absorb and use the treatment to rid itself of any active pests, as well as prevent them from returning for an entire season. It is recommended within the first quarter of the year for best results, however, we can still apply it at any time during the growing season.
If you would like to get an estimate, contact our office and we will get one put together for you!