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Q&A - Can I power wash a crape myrtle to remove bark scale?

Question:
I saw landscapers power washing Crape Myrtle trees last summer to remove scale. Is this a good way to treat Crape Myrtle scale? Does it do any harm to the plant?

Answer:
Power washing the crape myrtle is a recommended treatment for crape myrtle bark scale but you have to be careful. Pressure washers can be powerful enough to blast the bark off trees or even cut through limbs. If you are going to try pressure washing a crape myrtle use a 15-degree fan spray and hold the wand so the stream hits the tree at an angle. Remember to pay attention and make sure you are not damaging the bark on the tree.

Related Resources:
Crape Myrtle Bark Scale Identification and Control
Crape Myrtle Bark Scale: An Exotic New Pest
Crape Myrtle
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  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
  • Search