Southern Magnolia: scale, horticultural oil?

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Sallyoyo Venice, FL(Zone 9b) May 15, 2006

If you know anything about Southern Magnolia trees, please advise:

I had a well established tree - 7 ft when planted 4 or 5 years ago in memory of my parents. It has slowly - very slowly - stopped growing. I researched and diagnosed scale on it, as well as on a neighboring magnolia, though that one has less and is now, for the first time, blooming. Big, gorgeous white flowers, worth the wait, IMHO.

I read on DG that I needed to use a horticultural oil to kill the scale, which I did today. My first time at 'cide. not pretty.

Tho I tried hard to keep it confined to the trees, the overspray got it on me, other plants, maybe my new memorial garden, chenille, nicotiana and others . . . I hate using strong stuff, but at least this is plant based, all-natural,

. . .I'm so afraid Mom's tree is going to die.

Anybody with experience?

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liveoaklady Metairie, LA May 15, 2006

Not necessarily die. It may look bad for a while. Magnolias are very resilient and the fact that it is blooming is good. You probably got a handle on the scale by spraying it. Perhaps next time you won't need to do it so heavily. And, remember to spray when there is absolutely no wind or breeze.

Post #2281673
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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) May 15, 2006

A magnificent double row of old magnolias behind Lincoln's Tomb was killed two years ago by magnolia scale -- every tree wiped out despite (belated) efforts to spray. Nasty little buggers if you give them time to build up their population on your tree. Ask your extension office for what to use on them at the crawler stage (probably about now), which is the most vulnerable stage to treat. You'll probably need REALstrong stuff, not the relatively benign hort oil, and you might consider having someone with more experience apply it.

Guy S.

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