What is this? Scale?

[Joe2758]

This is a nursery red twig dogwood. It was repotted without root trimming a few weeks ago and has been resting in shade. Now it is putting out new growth so i put outside (but still shady). It is still in a weakened state.

What is this on the branches? I'm a beginner, thanks!

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Looks like mature bark formation but check close to see if it is indeed some pest

 

[penumbra]

I agree, it is forming bark.

 

[Paradox]

Most of it does look like regular bark formation but there are a few of them that might look like scale to me.
If you can scrape them off with your fingernail easily its scale

 

[Joe2758]

Thanks, friends. Well, I believe you were all correct about the bark. The fingernail trick was a huge help because some were indeed scale, and after taking off around 20 I think I finally have an idea what to look for. Some things I just need to see in person.

Now that they are off, should I spray it? i have neem and soap? The tree is not very strong right now.

I also noticed some whitish gray insects crawling on the trunk. They look exactly like the those common ones that hang out in the soil (which I HEAR are harmless). So I hope they are harmless. There are some dead stumps and crumbling dead wood--could that be why?