Mimosa problems. Need urgent help.

Hello, today I have bought a mimosa tree from Mockridge nursaries. I believe it is acacia dealbata though on the label it is Mimosa.
When I brought it home I noticed strange looking white cotton wool/marsh mallow balls up to 6 - 7 mm on its branches. When they are very small they are brownish. If squashed they are orange inside. It seems to me some insect layed eggs in those balls.
I have removed those so called balls and sprayed the branches with neem oil, soap and squashed garlic in water. But I am not sure that I did right because I do not know what it is and never have seen it before.
Any idea what it is and what to do now?

 

The insect on your Acacia is cushion scale, it looks like a cross between of mealy bug and scale insect. It is not easy to get rid of but what you have done may remove most of it, the problem is the waxy outer coating is waterproof and needs a surfactant in the insecticide to break the surface down. Provado does work but it is slow. Most of the effective insecticides are now withdrawn from the market. If you have removed what you can see you will have to keep an eye on it and check regularly. Cold weather can set these insects back but anything below 6/7c could kill or severely damage the Acacia (I know to my cost).

 

Hello, thank you Strongylodon for your reply. I have sprayed the tree with the same spray several times during the week. After the second time I have not seen the bug's eggs any more. I wrote an email to Mockridge nursaries having attached the pictures but they have never replied.
The tree is under my carport at the moment isolated from other plants.
When it becomes colder I intend to take it into my unheated hall of the house for the winter. There are plenty of other plants there and I must be careful not to infect them all.

 

If I may. Acia delbata is the scientific name. Botanically. This name can readilly be accepted and recognised across the horticultural world. Mimosa is a, shall we say, a common name.
So. I would not be impessed with the standards of your nursery.

I ask myself many times over. Why do gardeners buy plants from garden centres and nurseries that have visible defect and deformaties.
Simple solution to the members request. Being obviously a potted plant. Use a cotton bud dipped in meths and apply to the affected area of the pest.

 

Its not a pest I've come across
And I get most.

Well @Mike Allen , we could call it "wattle"
And I doubt that @Black Orchid spotted the pest at the time of buying.

 

Thank you Mike for your reply and recommendations.

 

Pete, you are right. I didn't spot the problem on the tree when I was buying it. I noticed Acacias dealbata in buds a month ago when I went to that nursary specially to buy a climbing hidrangea. I just could not forget Acacias. I already had one but not in buds. So I came again with the intention to buy an acacia this time. It was almost the nursary closing time and I could not see what I wanted. When I asked the shop assistants they brought 3 to choose from. I made my choice in a hurry. When I brought the tree home I was shocked and upset to see unusual white 'balls' on the branches.