Plant Health Care: What is it and who needs it?
Traditional landscape pest control programs rely on what are called cover sprays. The pest control sprays offered are based on pest problems and control measures common to the service area. The cover spray type, method, and timing are all pre-determined. Traditional pest control programs are not necessarily obsolete or bad for the environment and may be the best option for clients who have overriding concerns about program cost or are only concerned about one specific pest problem.
Plant health care (PHC) considers the landscape as a whole when deciding how to best care for plants. Plant problems are controlled through careful monitoring of the landscape environment. Chemical controls may be part of the treatment but they are not necessarily used in every treatment. A strategy is determined by:
- evaluating the landscapes environment
- noting actual or potential causes of plant stress (stressors)
- maintaining plant performance through proper cultural practices
- investigating the landscape through monitoring
- identifying and treating problems as they occur
Because of this, every PHC program is customized to fit the clients property and expectations.
When would you recommend a Tree Health Care Program?
PHC would be recommended when an arborist recognizes a potential or actual problem in your landscape that might be best avoided or treated by implementing a program. Some common examples include:
- inappropriate matching of the plants requirements to the landscape site
- improper or poor plantation
- poor maintenance techniques and practices
- a combination of all of the above