Kitchen Garden Forum

Our small bay tree which spent the winter in the unheated greenhouse is covered with "sooty mould" and I read that it might be from scale insects. Hoe can I get rid of them organically, considering the leaves will be used in food? Before using one I wash the sticky black stuff off, but it can't be doing the whole tree any good.

Hi Monika - scale insects will be on the undersides of the leaves and maybe on the shoots as well. They literally look like round, light brown scales stuck onto the leaves.

The easiest way to deal with them on a small tree is to gently squeeze the leaf and pop them. A satisfying, if slightly gruesome job. If you put the tree outside, the rain will wash off the sugary liquid the scales excrete and with it, the sooty mould.

Sue

Thank you, Sue. I have checked and yes, it's scale insect all right, so I will start squashing!

My Bay gets this every year - Its survived on a south west facing patio by the back door right through the last 2 winters, so its not under the protection of the green house. I find I can wipe them off with a damp cloth - bit tedious but I dont fancy them in my bouquet garni! I've been told to try spraying the plant with a soft soap solution after removing as many as possible.