scale on my Wahoo

For the first time in the 12 or 13 years I have had my single trunked tree form wahoo, it has scale this year. I have been having a rough time with my own health this year, and did not realize that the tree had this problem until this past week. It seems quite severe to me.

I called my local Dawes Arboretum about the scale. They told me the best thing this time of year is to cover it in dormant oil on a day when it is over 50 degrees. We should have that this weekend. Fortunately, it is in the corner of a raised deck, so I should be able to do this pretty easily. Also to clean up all dead leaves and so on below it. To repeat the oil treatment this fall again in 2-3 weeks if the weather permits, and again during winter, if we have a warm spell.

What are your experiences with wahoo -- is it worth treating? The horticulturalist says yes - since my tree is about 9 feet tall and a beautiful specimen and has been so healthy. I am way out in the middle of no where... he feels if I can get a good kill and then during next year's growing season perhaps spray it with Orthene, or us a systemic (I am at work now, forget the name, but I have it at home... began with an M.. Merrit?) granuals to work into soil ... I should get 2-3 years or so between infestations. If I use the systemic every year, perhaps no more scale at all if I get a good kill now with the dormant oil.

This is a perfect tree for the spot it is planted in. It is absolutely lovely with the pink seed pods and the fall color.

I took a class on hollies at the arboretum years ago, and we walked past the euonamous (sp?) collection going to the location of the hollies. I commented at the time on the other euonamous, and asked why no Wahoo? They said because of scale. I said mine never has scale. They said - give it time - it will! Well, I guess now is my time! :-(

Thanks
Jules

I think your wahoo is worth treating. It's a fine native plant, quite underused in home landscapes where it is a very good fit.

It seems with the minimal effort (and very light environmental impact) of the pesticides you've mentioned, that you should be able to enjoy your wahoo for years to come.

Collect some of your seed, and make more to share the bounty with others. Here's one of mine in fall.

Thank you.

I have tried so hard to only have trees and shrubs that take no pruning, spraying etc! Of course, from time to time, they all need some care.

The Arboretum sounded like it would not be that big of a deal - yet they do not have a wahoo in their collection because of scale. I'm willing to spray it occasionally... but if this is going to be an ongoing, severe problem....perhaps a different choice of plant material would be better. That's why I thought I would ask here to see what people's real experiences are.

For those who have never seen it, here is a photo of the fruit or berry - not sure what the proper name is... on the wahoo. It holds the berry while it has it's fall foliage for me. The berries will fall a couple weeks after the leaves. In the photo VibernumValley posted, I don't see any berries. I just love the fall color, with the pink/magenta berries.

I'd take a picture now, with the fall color and the berries - but with the white scale all over everything, and the ugly spotted leaves - it is not very attractive! :-(

I have my varigated euronomyus for 12 + years, and have never had a problem until this year. I am going to Lowes tomorrow, and will get some dormant oil spray. I have 2 of these in the front of my front porch, and I hate the thought of having to take them out. They are such a welcome change to foundation plantings, and are quite attractive. Won't post a pic, as they are sure ugly now.

I don't know why some years a wahoo plant will have more fruit than other years. I only first noticed that plant growing at the base of an old elm when it was full of fruit one fall. In following years it has shown the propensity for fine fall foliage.

Other plants around the property have acted similarly. Here's one with plenty of fruit.