At SPM we are huge believers in education, which keeps us on the cutting edge with new products and trends for insect and disease control. Our insect and disease programs incorporate both an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach blended with a Plant Health Care (PHC) approach. The difference in the two is that IPM is a reactive approach used to control insects and diseases after signs and symptoms are found and have reached damaging thresholds. PHC uses more preventative measures to try and prevent insect and disease issues before they happen.

Every property has a unique landscape with many different varieties of plant species. Each different species has a host of insects and diseases that can be either specific to that species or can affect multiple species. This is where having the adequate knowledge and background in plant health sets us apart from the competition. For example knowing that hemlock wooly adelgid attacks only hemlocks, knowing the signs and symptoms to look for, and the length of time between infestation and damage to the tree allows us to control for this issue with an IPM approach. With an issue such as Cedar-Apple Rust we know that there is multiple hosts that are infected by spores at different times of the year and the disease is very prevalent in any given year on the south shore. Knowing that this disease also cannot be controlled once it infects a host lets us know that we need to treat for it with a PHC approach.

All of our programs are custom designed for each property. We time our visits based upon the plant material that you have and the signs of existing insect and disease damage observed on your plant material. We refuse to perform cover sprays and will never just prescribe a “cookie cutter” program for your property like many of our competitors use. It is important to have an arborist designing and implementing your tree and shrub care programs so that your resources are best utilized for the optimal health of your trees and shrubs. Our programs are re-evaluated at the end of every year to account for any new products that may more effectively control issues or any new insects or diseases that emerge in the landscape. Our means of control will be the least harmful to the environment, your family, and pets. We have incorporated many systemic products and host specific products newly available to the market and have phased out many older, harmful chemical products.