If you're seeing black, sooty mold covering the branches and leaves of your crape myrtles right now, you're not alone. This is something we're noticing on a lot of crape myrtles across North Texas. But here's something many homeowners don't realize: that mold is actually the result of an insect problem.
The Real Culprit: Scale Insects
Scale is an insect that attaches itself to crape myrtles and feeds by sucking on the branches and foliage. As scale insects feed, they secrete a substance called sticky honeydew. That honeydew is what the sooty mold feeds off of—it's essentially the food source that allows the mold to grow and spread.
So if you want to fix your sooty mold problem, you have to address the scale problem first. Treating the mold itself without eliminating the scale is pointless because the insects will continue producing honeydew, and the mold will keep coming back.
Scale Is a Persistent Pest
Here's the reality about scale: it's not an easy pest to get rid of. You can plan on doing multiple applications to control it effectively. There's really no way to completely eradicate or prevent scale—you have to deal with it as it appears and stay consistent with treatments to keep populations under control.
For homeowners in Midlothian and Prosper, this means ongoing vigilance with your crape myrtles. Scale isn't a one-and-done treatment situation.
Why Now Is the Best Time to Treat
Timing matters significantly with scale treatment. Right now is the optimal window to address the problem. As the year progresses, scale insects become more mature and develop harder protective coverings that make them much more difficult to kill.
Treating scale while the insects are younger and more vulnerable gives you the best chance of controlling the population. Wait too long, and you'll be fighting an uphill battle with diminishing results.
Check Your Crape Myrtles Now
If you have crape myrtles on your property in Prosper, Waxahachie, or anywhere in the DFW area, take a few minutes to inspect them. Look for that telltale black, sooty appearance on branches and leaves. If you see any signs of sooty mold, make plans to address it as soon as possible.
The longer you wait, the more established both the scale population and the resulting mold become. Early action leads to better control and healthier trees.
We'll be posting another video soon on our specific method for treating scale and the products we use. In the meantime, stay vigilant and don't ignore those warning signs on your crape myrtles.
Watch the video below to learn more about the connection between sooty mold and scale insects on crape myrtles.
For professional ornamental care and pest control in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
