A couple of unusual problems

I had not worked on this side of the yard for a week or so and went out this morning to see if anything needed watered. I noticed some white stuff on the leaves of a brug and when I looked close I noticed that it is powdery mildew. We have heavy dew at night and the mornings are always foggy plus the nights are in the mid 70's, perfect conditions for mildew!
This plant is also in the hottest corner of the garden, gets stressed for water quite often and is in a far corner so I don't go there as often.

When I turned the leaf over to see how bad the mildew had spread, this is what I found. These are not aphids, they are much worse.

These are soft scale. I couldn't figure out where they came from so I started investigating. There is a HUGE Dutchman's pipe on the fence, it's a tangled mess, plus a popcorn tree and a jasmine molle. The Dutchman's pipe was literally covered with scale and mildew. Upon further investigation I found that a neighbor 2 houses down(but the wind blows from her house toward mine) has a huge infestation of scale so I'm thinking they are not only spread by ants, but windborn.

shoot, my eyes are so bad. Are they yellow spots or bugs?

I know these were not there a few months ago, but not sure how long it's taken them to spread this badly. I found them on a couple of other plants downwind, a night blooming jasmine and another brug. I have cut all the plants almost to the ground. The Dutchman's pipe was loaded with blooms and I hated to whack it down, but it will grow back fast, it's like kudzu vine down here!

Kell, the yellow spots are the bugs, lol.

What are you spraying them with? I sure hope you get rid of them. YUK!!!! I guess you'll have to spray the neighbours garden too.

I wonder if that Bayers Tree and Shrub would kill them dead, Susie. It lasts for 1 year!! Easy to apply soil prep. It killed hard scale I had for years and could not get rid of in 1 application.

Does the soft scale bring the sooty mildew?

Yuck...I can relate to big infestations....I finally put on my glasses and found spider mite webs encasing some brugs!!! I think that Imidocloprid will kill that soft scale....and keep them off....you might tell your neighbour about it too!!!.

What are you going to do about the Powdery Mildew?

Carol

Jeanne, I haven't sprayed anything yet. I just cut them down and burned the stems and leaves. I was going to do some research and see what works on soft scale(not the hard body kind, these are soft and squishy and easier to kill). I think alcohol is out of the question, lol, unless they sell it by the gallon!
When I find out what works, I'll take some to the neighbor! Only one problem with spraying, the corner is literally full of lady bugs. I know now that I've cut the plants the ladybugs will leave, but I don't want to kill any that stay behind.

Kell, yes it makes the sooty mold, yuck! My hands were black. I'll get some of the Bayer on the way home tonight. The tree and shrub not rose kind, correct?
Carol, for the powdery mildew, I'll use neem. It's the best thing. I'll either spray tonight or early in the morning.
Something else I found on three leaves on another plant was leaf miner. I have never never had those on brugs, but this year it's so hot and dry I think bugs are attacking anything still green!

Gosh Susie, and I was feeling sorry for myself because I found a few caterpillars
this morning. I am so sorry that you are having such problems. I hope that you can get it under control fast.

YUCK!!! Scale is one pest I can do without. I have a heck of a time trying to kill them off when I get them. I'm glad your holding off spraying because of the ladies. I don't spray this time of the year because I have baby praying mantis running wild. Then later in the season it's the ladies, etc, etc. I just can't stand to kill the good guys. I hope you find something that will take care of them once and for all. I hope your neighbor will let you treat her plants too.

Hey- I have a seedling that is about to bloom from seeds I got from you THREE years ago. Can you believe I've held on to them that long? I can't.... Darn plants. It's a double too. It set one bud in the winter but fell off when I took it in the house. It is a knighti sp? cross ? I'll take a picture when it opens.

darn Susie what a mess. Hope the Bayer takes care of the problem for you

Oh yuck. Those look nasty to have to deal with.

I hate that for you Susie. Too bad Cygon is not on the market anymore. I bet it would take care of the soft scale and those Texas Aphid looking bugs.

Bless your heart... here I was just sick because I found Spider mites on 2 brugs, that's minor compared to what you found.

So sorry,

Judy

Yuck .... will keep my fingers crossed that the Bayers works for you.

What a mess Susie, that's some ugly stuff - it's the time of the year that if you turn your back for 15 minutes, your whole garden can get wiped out. Good luck getting it cleared up swiftly and completely!!!

Oh no, Susie. I sure hope you get rid of them.

Dust them with liquid chicken broth,maybe that dumb dog will eat them... Dang Susie,don't know what to say,thems some ugly bugs!

Susie, good luck. had some on a plant I took in gh without spraying and it took cutting the plant to the ground. I sprayed with something but can't remember what-old age got me. But I do remember it was everywhere before I knew it and was a bear to get rid of.

Yes Susie, the Bayer Tree and Shrub and it won't hurt your lady bugs. What a shame.

Kristi, I will be hoping for a double pink from that seedling for you. That would be too neat.

Susie, I agree with Kell, the Bayer Tree & Shrub will not hurt your lady bugs, nor did the Bayer 3 in 1...in fact I have more lady bugs than I've ever had, it appears that they like the chow here...

Well I started putting the Bayer granules around and got to looking and my native turk's cap(the small flowered one) had some bugs on half of it. I cut the infested branches to the ground. I HATE to cut this plant, it has a beautiful round shape and is loaded with buds. Guess that corner will be bare for a while, lol. I found a huge paper wasp nest, they flew out and threatened but didn't attack!
Kristi, I hope you get a double pink!
The praying mantis, stick bugs, assasin bugs and lady bugs were having a feast. I hope they don't starve.

You are having no luck Susie!! The Bayer Tree and Shrub comes in liquid, not granules that I know of. Did you use the Rose systemic, instead?

Oh Kell, I hope not! I will be digging dirt forever! It was granules.

Oh it won't hurt anything unless you used it too strong. I use it a lot here to feed my spider mites. I do not think it will touch the scale though. You need the Bayer Tree and Shrub. You mix some in 1 gallon of water and water around the base of the plant. So easy. No muss no fuss!

I'd try that Neem that has been talked about. It works as an insecticide AND a fungicide. How dreadful to find something like that!

Thanks Kell, the brug is leafless(and almost cut to the ground) so it won't hurt if it loses leaves from the Bayer, lol.
Karrie, I've used Neem for years. I love it for fungus and spider mites.