(April) We have a hedge row of wax leaf ligustrum that has become infested with
scale. The leaves have turned yellow, and some of the limbs look dead. We had
thought we would trim it back to the wooded area. Is this the thing to do? What
is the best product to use to spray and eliminate the scale?
Prune out the heavily infested areas and then spray it thoroughly with a dormant oil, covering as much of the plant as possible. Remove the mulch before spraying and even spray the ground before replacing with fresh mulch. While the mulch is removed you can also apply either Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub insecticide around the soil line, or Di-Syston granules. The combined approach of smothering out what you have and using a systemic insecticide should start you off clean, and hopefully the plants will bounce back. Fertilize with a slow release high nitrogen fertilizer as new growth begins.