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by
Lyn D
+32
I was out trimming some bushes and came across this furry substance on a limb. Does anybody know what this is, how to get rid of it, and will it kill my bush?
What is this white furry pastie stuff? It scraped off with my pruners very easily.
32 answers
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Maybe powdery mildew? I live on the Pacific Coast and roses get it.
Gigi
on Oct 21, 2016
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Hi. I had that on my roses aswell. Made on a solution of green dishwasher liquid and sprayed wherever I saw it. Sprayed every 2nd day and it seems to have worked.
Samantha
on Oct 21, 2016
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That appears to be mealy bug. Spray the plant down with a systemic insect killer. If that is not what you use horticultural oil will work but may take several applications.
Janet Pizaro
on Oct 21, 2016
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Identifying from the clippings your plant is euonymus and the pest is called euonymus scale. It is a bug and very difficult to control due to its many stages. If not controlled it can kill the plant. I have found it best to spray an insecticide in spring. Much info can be found online.
Gan11809821
on Oct 22, 2016
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Its a soft body insect so you can begin killing it off with just about anything. Spray every 10 days or so to kill hatching eggs. I'd use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. However, that plant, if saved, will be a continuing pain in the bum. Much better to dispose of it by burning if possible. Replace with a less susceptible shrub.
Vik
on Oct 22, 2016
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Mealy bug, yep. Nontoxic removal, dish soap and water.
Ag Castor
on Oct 22, 2016
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Almost looks like a white fly infestation. Are you in Florida?
Terri
on Oct 22, 2016
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Looks like a fungus. Spray on milk?
Amm13457574
on Oct 22, 2016
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Scale. It will eventually kill the shrub. Identifying picture: https://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?im.... Treatment: http://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/euony... Although this comes from Chicago, the treatment is the same everywhere. Try to open up the shrub by pruning some of the interior branches to allow more air flow. If you have had a lot of dampness and heat, this is weather that is conducive to the growth of scale. There may also be trees and plants nearby that also have scale on them. Japanese cherry and pachysandra are two that frequently have scale. Definitely not powdery mildew, mealy bug or white fly. It's scale.
MargaretHoulihan
on Oct 22, 2016
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mix up a little dawn and water in a spray bottle ... spray it all around the infested shrub ... it should kill it
Tauni
on Oct 22, 2016
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Remove as much as you can of this.Spray a Lt water with 10 drops of tea tree oil.Should stop it from coming back.
Sophia,M.,McConnery
on Oct 22, 2016
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Definitely looks like a heavy mealybug infestation to me. Spray with insecticidal soap or mix your own, Blue Dawn, water and a little veggie oil to make it stick, spray again two weeks later. Should kill the little suckers!
Dia11688339
on Oct 22, 2016
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Looks like it's covered with aphids. If so,Insecticidal soap will work. I just wipe them off with my hand
Patty
on Oct 22, 2016
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I agree with Diane. I am a Texas Master Gardener since 1995. Treat the "Mealy bugs" with alcohol. Normally I apply the alcohol to limbs and leaves with a Q-tip. However this infestation is so severe, you might try saturating a rag with the alcohol and wipe every surface with the alcohol. However, keep a sharp eye on the shrub. The Mealy bugs will reappear in a few days. It will take two or more treatments to get rid of them completely. J. J. in Texas
Joyce Jay
on Oct 22, 2016
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Take murphy pine soap and add a little more ammonia to a spray bottle and spray. This is a good way to get rid of bugs naturally
Rosbucs
on Oct 22, 2016
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Thank you everybody (virtual bow) I will start with some soap and then get more aggressive from there. I have another bush right beside it and it has none. I have seen white flies in the past when I clip it because it grows so darn fast. If I have to remove them both because I cannot control it - I will :(
Lyn D
on Oct 22, 2016
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Powdery mildew?
Marcia
on Oct 22, 2016
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Se llama chaguistle y es una plaga que mata a tus plantas . Mátala con agua jabonosa o con insecticida para plantas.
Roc6250382
on Oct 22, 2016
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Spray all surrounding plants with a white vinegar and alcohol mix., with a drop of liquid soap. 1 part each to three parts water. Repeat if you see any after a week. Not to worry,you likely go it all, but I would spray at least once.
Johnchip
on Oct 22, 2016
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It is called white powdery mildew. It can spread to other plants. Use the spray directions you were given and you'll stop it now.
Linda Wilson-Smith
on Oct 22, 2016
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Go to your local nursery. Tell them if the location is sun or shade, if the shrub should be evergreen or can lose its leaves in winter, how short it should stay without pruning, if it should flower or not, what kind of soil you have ( alkaline or acidic) and ask for recommendations.
Vik
on Oct 22, 2016
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Mealey Bug try safer insecticide soap you can buy @ any nursery or Home Depot or Lowes stores
Keely
on Oct 22, 2016
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You are right, it was rude and ignorant. I thought it was about helping people and that jack just got to me. Sorry for falling as low as him
Phyllis Nolan
on Oct 22, 2016
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Mix dish soap with water and spray affected area. then wait 2 hours and hose it off. If its a type of bug it will die. If it stays on it may be a mildew that is created by overwatering.
1268409614
on Oct 22, 2016
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The best home-made spray for white powdery mildew is a spray bottle nearly full of water, a few drops of dish soap, (Dawn works very well) and a little hydrogen peroxide. Spray well, till it drips. It may take a few days to kill it. If you want, wipe the stems and spray again.
Linda Wilson-Smith
on Oct 23, 2016
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I think it is white powdery mildew. If you take something to a nursery, please put in plastic bag as they don't want their plants to get whatever it is.
Dmotan
on Oct 24, 2016
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I have never been able to get rid of scale with a safe environmental product or soap and water. Scale has a hard exterior surface. The best is to use dormant oil to smother them over the winter, and then in the spring, start treating them early with an insecticide meant for scale. If you live in an area without a winter, the plant will not become dormant. Dormant oil on a living plant will kill the plant. The leaves need to be able to take in carbon dioxide, make food for the plant, and release oxygen. This will not happen if you smother it with oil. Scale is one of the worst to kill. I recommend also cutting out the branches that are covered with scale. Do not put the diseased branches in your compost. Dispose of them in closed yard waste bags. Good luck!
MargaretHoulihan
on Oct 24, 2016
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Look closely to see if it's the residue left by white fly...or mealy bugs. Regardless, soapy water and a stiff spray with a hose....And removing affected branches, putting them in the trash,NOT your compost pile. best prevention? More airflow, better spacing of shrubs and rejuvenation pruning to thin out the shrub
Connie Byrne
on Oct 27, 2016
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don't forget to disinfect your pruners
Judy
on Oct 27, 2016
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So far it appears to be under control. I do not see it anywhere else. I have sprayed the dish soap and water mixture twice, (fingers crossed) Thanks so much everyone :)
Lyn D
on Oct 27, 2016
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If it really is scale, you'll have to use horticultural oil to smother them. Soap and water is only for soft bodied insects.
Vik
on Oct 28, 2016
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update: I have not seen any more of those white bugs and white powder scale. I need to do another soapy treatment just for prevention.
Lyn D
on Nov 16, 2016
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