Scale insects? Help needed!

[Lookingformymarbles]

Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice please?

I think this sticky white stuff on my hydrangea is scale insects, Ive been spraying with bug spray but still there although not as bad and now mostly on the dead wood.

How best to deal? Should I prune it right back in the autumn?

Also there is white stuff in a nearby tree-is this the same?

Whilst we're long overdue a nice summer, it's playing havoc with the garden!

Is that not woolly aphids?

Hydrangea scale. Check out the rhs advice. If the plant is basically healthy it can tolerate it.

Ah yes, woolly aphids on the tree and scale on hydrangea, thank you.

Off out now but will Google how to deal later.

Meanwhile if anyone has any hints and tips on dealing with both I'd be very grateful

Systemic insecticide. Scale insects can be picked off by hand - you push your thumbnail or a blunt knife against the side and flip them off, but obviously you can't do that on a big plant. The worst of woolly aphids can be twirled off llike candyfloss with a small paint brush, or blasted off with a hosepipe.

Systemic and other insecticides are non-specific and will take out beneficial insects as well . You can’t better @LadyGardenersQuestionTime’s advice

Thanks for the advice, think I'll leave the hydrangea, maybe pick off the scale when a bit cooler outside. Should I prune right back in the autumn rather than spring?

Will treat the woolly aphids as per RHS - organic spray is recommended. I love this tree (so beautiful in the spring) would hate to lose it.