Corkscrew Hazel disease?

[sithlord]

I have a corkscrew hazel and i've just noticed its branches are covered in what looks like small pimples. When you remove one there is white powder inside and also what looks like pus (so they are very like proper pimples!) I've tried googling with no joy. Any advice would be great, thankyou.

[Ratty2E]

Sounds like scale insects, they suck the sap from the tree and will secrete honeydew so you might see a lot of ants on the tree too. You can scrape the off or spray with a bug spray.

[sithlord]

Thanks Rattyratgirl. Just googled them and thats what they are. Got my work cut out scraping them off. Theres thousands of them!!

[TonyV]

Use a chemical spray with Pyrethrum in it - although it may take several applications to erradicate - then use a tar oil wash in December to prevent reinfestation.

[Ratty2E]

I just gently rubbed along the branch with the edge of a tiny houseplant trowel. You need to be gentle so you don't damage the tree but they come off easily, i can appreciate it's much easier on normal branches than corkscrew ones.