Scale insects

[Phil]

My Holly tree is about 18 yrs old and is a lovely tree about 12ft high, it is full of red berries in the winter and everybody comments on how beutiful it looks. But this year in early summer I noticed that the leaves were suddenly turning yellow and falling off, when I looked carefully I saw little scaley insects under the leaves and on some of the stems. I was given a spray to spray it with but they are still there, I can't spray under each leaf as there are hundreds of leaves, and they hurt, even pricking through my gardening gloves.
Can anybody help?

Phil

[JPlovesflowers]

Phil,
I believe that ladybugs eat scale insects. I have been wanting to get some for aphids on my roses and I have some problems with scales on my azaleas as well. You can also use one of the Bayer systemic fertilizer/insecticides if you are wanting a synthetic solution.
JP

[Phil]

Thanks JP
I think I will have to try some sort of synthetic spray as knowing my luck the Ladybugs (Ladybirds in the UK) will fly away

Phil

[TheLorax]

Try an appropriate horticultural oil. It can be sprayed on the undersides of the leaves just as easily as any synthetic spray. Could very well be more effective than a pesticide in the long run anyway since you don't know exactly what your foe is.