Call the toll free number on the label about using this product on container plants. They'll probably scream at you through the phone line, lol!

There is nothing on the label that recommends this product for container plants, especially those that will be brought inside. As a matter of fact, it's not even recommend for citrus, in general.

But I will tell you that if this WERE labeled for container use, the mixing directions would be entirely different. Seriously, DO call that toll-free number. They list it for that very reason, and will be happy to answer your questions.

I second calling the toll free number-

this has been addressed on this forum before and the general consensus was- do not use stuff like that on trees which you will eat from..

I too fought the scale battle all winter long- you have to be extremely diligent in your efforts..

good luck...

Get some dormant oil at your local nursery and spray twice at the summer dosage. End of scale.

Thanks everyone! I found my receipt and will be taking the Bayer Tree and Shrub systemic back to Lowes. Dormant oil? I just ordered some Neem oil online. Will that work? Thank you all again.

Umm. The Bayer Tree and Shrub drench works great on Citrus. It is a weak version of Admire Pro, which I spent $300 on wholesale for a small jug.

I get the same main ingredient in my pet's Advantage!

I used the general purpose BTS drench on many potted Citrus and it stopped leafminers for a good year.

This product (Imidacloprid) is used on all Citrus sold in Florida, and nearly all veggies. Citrus have tags on them indicating the date of treatment. It helps protect against Citrus Greening, and promotes vigorous growth.

The general pupose version is not labeled for Citrus. So, Bayer will hem and haw about using it, and will advise against it. Getting labels for each type of plant costs Bayer big $$$$. So they go after the approvals for commercial products first.

Use common sense. We are already eating this stuff in our lettuces, peppers, spinach, and other plants that we eat the leaves of..

The Imidacloprid is taken up well in leaves, but poorly in flowers and fruit.

So, in my opinion, it is okay on my 50 Citrus trees. Without it, my trees are disfigured by leafminers to the point that I was considering removing the trees. It is safe for Apples, Plums, ect, which I also grow, so I tried it on my worst Citrus. They are thriving.

My trees defoliate terribly when I use ultrafine oils on them, as directed. I won't use it again except on winter-dormant trees (not Citrus).

I used the measuring directions on the bottle of Bayer Tree?shrub for my potted Citrus.

Please do your own research. We all have to do what works best for us.

With the Admire Pro, my Citrus are beautiful and healthy, and we have a gazzilion bees to work the blooms.

Lisa

I battled a medium batch of scale earlier this spring. I have to say the absolute best product for getting rid of the little suckers is 'the bug blaster'. It is a high pressure hose attachment. It does not get off all scale but it gets most of them and all the 'crawlers', it kills any eggs it comes in contact with.

After several passes with the blaster you should have greatly reduced the population and can move on to some horticulture oil followed by insecticide soap (don't do it directly after, give it time to dry and even up to a day). These sprays are contact only and once dried have no effect, so you must coat the entire tree in order to be effective.

Follow these steps and your problem should be gone within 3 weeks.

Also keep any ants away as they will actually farm the scale. Honey Dew (what the scale secrete) is like crack to ants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bug Blaster

I just called the toll free number, if anyone is interested. I was informed in no uncertain terms that Bayer Tree and Shrub is NOT to be used in containers and is NOT to be used on citrus. Period.

They have come up with a new formulation of Bayer systemic pesticide plant food that can be used for containers, but still not on citrus.

I totally agree that we should use common sense. In this instance, common sense strongly dictates that this product is not the right stuff for the job.

rhizo, did they say why not to use it on containers?

I used it this year on my Jap Maple, Plumeria, and Banana all in containers. I have seen only sickly beetles, no beetle damage and no side effects on the plants. I treated the plants in April.

I found one Jap Beetle on a banana leaf, he was not feeling very good, I touched him and he just fell to the ground. My Plumeria is full of white/yellow flowers which last year caused an infestation of beetles, none this year. I would have to say it is working.

Now with that said I would not use it on citrus I plan to eat but for those other plants I have seen no problems and won't hesitate to use it next year.

Could it be they recommend not using on container plants because a bottle of the current stuff would go a long way if used on container plants and if they repackage it and call it Container Bayer Tree and Shrub they can charge more for it????? It will be interesting to see the AI of the "new formulation" I would bet it is the same stuff mixed at a different rate that cost more.

It is a systemic insecticide, used in the ground or in a container it works the same way......

JR

They told me very specifically that it is not to be used in containers. I did not ask them why. Generally speaking, label directions are carefully compiled for the safety of the user, of the plant, of the environment, and of non-target organisms.

Toxic chemicals react quite differently when exposed to real soil, in situ. I suspect that the manufacturer can not assure consumer safety if their product is used within the confines of a container, especially in a soil-less medium. Among other reasons.

Using a pesticide in a manner not listed on the label is against federal law. Recommending such use is a real no-no.

Well seeing how I did not recommend anything to anybody and that fact that the Dept of Ag can't even police the professionals (I do work in the industry and I carry a Pesticide Applicator License) I don't think I have anything to worry about...

In fact I'm willing to bet I could call them, provide my name, address and phone number, tell them what I was doing and I would not hear back from them.

I only posted my experiences for others to see so they can make their own decisions. And yes I will use the product again next season in containers unless they come out with something else to use because it did work so well.

Have a nice 4th of July....

I agree that pesticide misuse is a very difficult thing to police. Manufacturers obviously count too much on users policing themselves, unfortunately. Professional pesticide applicators, from my observations, seem to fall into one of two primary categories: read the directions carefully and comply with the label OR do whatever they want. I worry more about the back yard users, who really don't realize how important those labels are, nor how hazardous the chemicals that they are using.

I conduct classes in pesticide use and safety. It's very, very easy to follow the right procedures and a whole lot safer for you and your family.

Enough said, I'm sure that this is totally boring to everyone! ;-) I wish you a wonderful holiday, too.