IPM & Organic Methods In Action

Environmentally Friendly Solutions

We take our role as plant health care stewards seriously, and consider not just your landscape, but the surrounding ecosystem. Our solutions to your landscape issues are designed to be both effective and environmentally responsible. 

We use OMRI listed or biorational pesticides, and we follow the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) when creating and implementing treatment plans. Our plant health care programs promote early pest detection and correctly timed action for control that significantly reduces the overall use of chemicals in your garden. This approach not only guarantees a safe space for pets and children, but preserves the quality of your groundwater and supports the health of your local watershed. 

 Pesticide runoff is a significant issue. Photo courtesy of Stroud Center

While we are committed to preserving the integrity of the natural environment as much as possible, we do not fail to recognize that perfection can be the enemy of good. In certain situations, such as when injecting a legacy tree that has a serious pest infestation or disease, we will use a non-biorational pesticide, if the situation warrants. These treatments are done on a case-by-case basis. We are proud to stand by our pledge to never use neonicotinoid or organophosphate pesticides. 

 IPM Principles in Action - Our Method 

Regular monitoring

Prevention is the best medicine. We offer regularly scheduled visits to locate and identify pests and diseases within your landscape. This monitoring approach often circumvents the need to resort to plant removal or replacement.

Proper identification

Our plant healthcare technicians are knowledgeable and experienced PA Department of Agriculture Certified Pesticide Applicators. Marielle is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, with a special interest in the diseases that threaten legacy trees, and the proper care of heirloom rose gardens.  Hanne earned a B.S. Horticulture from Delaware Valley College, and is especially interested in entomology (the study of insects!) We routinely attend continuing education courses, as well as undertake independent studies in the field to better refine our skills and knowledge.

Anticipation

Timing is everything! We pride ourselves on keeping meticulous notes, and compiling the data that we collect in the field into spreadsheets that allow us to record and compare the emergence of specific pest populations and disease outbreaks. Our system relies on growing degree days, and ensures that action is taken at the correct time, year after year.

Let's look at White Prunicola Scale, as an example. WPS is a very common insect problem for Schip Laurel and Cherry Laurel. Because this pest is protected by a white, waxy outer shell that is immune to pesticide sprays for most of its life, we diligently track weather patterns and growing degree days to target this pest immediately after they hatch, which is before they have developed their protective coating. We schedule our visits within the hatch window during each of the three generational hatches per year. This is by far the most effective way to control this challenging landscape pest. As technicians that understand insect life cycles, when to spray effectively, and how to spray effectively, we have a great track record of eliminating WPS scale infestation.

  Establishing Thresholds

Our goal isn’t to eliminate every single pest, but rather to keep pest populations below a level of aesthetic damage that is noticeable. 

The most ideal and effective long-term solution for controlling a pest involves the presence of beneficial insects, which are predators (or parasites!) that exist naturally, and keep pest populations below the level of causing considerable harm to a plant or tree. This is nature’s pest control system! Unfortunately, with the misuse and overuse of pesticides that is rampant in our world today, things can quickly become out of whack. By maintaining the concept of treatment thresholds, we allow some pests to exist in the landscape, at a low level, which encourages beneficial insects to stay and dine.

Targeted Treatment

We utilize a wide range of products, many of which have specific modes of action which allow them to target only the pest or disease being treated. For example, we will use a biorational insecticide called Venerate, which is microbial-based (Burkholderia spp. strain) and only effects the insects which ingest it - so, honeybees are unbothered, but insects that feed on plant tissue after it is sprayed with Venerate, like aphids and whiteflies, don’t stand a chance.

The soldier beetle is an important pollinator, and also a predator of aphids. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Horticultural Society