WASHINGTON — Crape Myrtle trees are found all over the DMV. They boast beautiful blooms and are a staple of many landscapes. But little white critters, called bark scale, are threatening the trees.

Dear Neil: How can I find someone qualified to tell me if a very large tree needs to be taken down? I’ve gotten conflicting comments. You need a Certified Arborist. He or she will be a member of the ...

Q: Why are the trunks of my crape myrtles turning black? They look rather unsightly. Mine aren't the only ones doing this -- many in our neighborhood look the same. Is it a disease? Is it going to ...

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Adding to our list of non-native pests is a newcomer that attacks crepe myrtles. It is called the Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (CMBS). The new pest is originally from China, Japan, ...

Dear Neil: Is there an effective treatment for crape myrtle bark scale? It’s not as bad as it was a few years ago, but I’d like to eliminate it. As insects in Texas go, this is a comparative newcomer, ...

Crape myrtles have adapted well to the climate of the south and southeastern United States. They are a significant component of low-maintenance landscape. One of the toughest and showiest plants for ...

Dear Neil: We have a crape myrtle that developed white spots on its bark this summer. Someone told us to spray the spots with alcohol, but that doesn't seem to have helped. Now there are orange ...

There's good news and bad news at Trident Technical College: we now have crape myrtle scale. The good news is horticulture students get firsthand exposure to this invasive pest. The bad news is we ...

Texas gardeners are abuzz these days with questions about crape myrtles and the special care they may need as we head into late spring. My reply when asked about these popular plants often goes in ...