Plant health care programs are a holistic approach to plant health that incorporates us as the arborists, you as the homeowner, and all other parties involved in caring for the landscape; whether they be the landscaper, lawn guy, or irrigation guy. The key to plant health lies in all these parties working together for the benefit of the plants.

Our role in the process is to first assess a landscape to diagnose and eliminate any conditions that may be causing a plant to be stressed. We utilize many different aspects of plant care to control these stresses whether they are insect related, disease related, or abiotic (site conditions). It is important to have qualified professionals providing services to your property so that corners are not cut in one area that can cause drastic reactions and expenses in other areas.

Why should I have a plant health care program?

Our modern day Landscapes are man made environments that would never naturally exist in nature. The soil is typically stripped of nutrients, organic matter, and soil microbiology that have symbiotic relationships with the plants that grow in it. Think of trying to sustain ones own health living off fast food alone, yes it can be done, but we wont be happy with the results and life expectancy would be greatly diminished. We are also trying to force certain species to co-exist that would never do so in nature and require completely different site conditions.

The above conditions alone can be enough to stress out plants, that is why it is important to have us as professionals intervene from as early on as possible to help provide you with information so you can make educated decisions about your landscape.

Any stress on a plant can lead to secondary factors which usually appear in the form of harmful insect and disease infestations. We provide a wide array of controls for the many typical insects and diseases that attack a landscape and most work very well, but it is still important to correct the original issues stressing the plant when possible.

At SPM our approach to plant care closely mirrors an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. This means that we monitor issues and only treat for them as they need to be treated for with the lowest impact materials available. This allows us to not spread chemical products into the environment without just cause and use products that will not harm beneficial life forms such as bees. The days of cover sprays for every plant just for the sake of spraying are behind us.

The results from a plant health program are difficult to see at first, but over time you will notice a naturally healthier landscape that should need fewer and fewer inputs each year giving you a healthier, more beautiful landscape than ever before. At SPM we have entered an era of education to make the best decisions for your plants, I hope that you will join us.

Please call for a free consultation and to learn more about our plant health services including:

Soil Care

Fertilization

Insect and Disease Control

Root Collar Excavations

Tick Control Programs

Deer Repellants

Lawn Care programs