What Is Plant Health Care?
The objective of Plant Health Care (PHC) is to proactively maintain or improve a landscape’s appearance, vitality, and — in the case of trees — safety. It’s a holistic approach that uses the most cost-effective and environmentally sensitive practices and treatments and works toward long-term solutions.
Why is Plant Health Care Important to Me?
Many of the trees and shrubs that make your landscape beautiful and add property value are subject to environmental stresses, such as insects, diseases, and environmental conditions that compromise their ability to thrive. Many of our landscape plants are not native to this part of the world, plus they’re frequently exposed to imported insects and diseases. Most significantly, they’re exposed to “Human Factors” that create stress, including construction, grade change, soil compaction, mechanical injury, over- or under-watering, road salt, air pollution, and more. In order for plants to thrive and survive, these issues must be addressed.
How Plant Health Care Works
Plant Health Care involves routine monitoring for early detection, preventive treatments, and a quality working relationship between the arborist and the property owner to ensure your landscape is healthy every season.
We work with you to design a program based on your goals and the specifics of your property. This isn’t a “one size fits all” approach. We share with you the best knowledge from our certified arborists, based on the latest research, so that together we can find solutions that prevent and treat problems while protecting people and the environment. A regular PHC program with Barts Tree Service will keep your landscape healthy and beautiful for the long term.
Call 203-240-1302 today to schedule a complimentary consultation with a certified arborist.
Barts Plant Health Care Services
Treatment of Insects & Diseases
Insect pests and diseases can have a devastating effect on your landscape’s appearance and health. If left unchecked, a disease or insect infestation may claim the life of your shrubs and trees. Whenever possible we like to use integrated pest management (IPM) to keep threshold levels of insect and disease down.
Fortunately, there are applications available to combat the attack of an insect pest or disease. An accurate diagnosis is the most important step toward curing the issue. In addition to helping with your current landscape issues, our certified arborists are able to prescribe preventative treatments that will help safeguard your landscape from future problems.
Sometimes established plants were planted in the wrong place or the variety planted is naturally susceptible to a specific disease or insect pest. In these circumstances we also have the ability to implement preventative treatments for these trees and shrubs.
>> See our Emerald Ash Borer Treatment program
Fertilization Programs
The key element in having a successful landscape is healthy plants. Unfortunately, many landscapes don’t provide the water and nutrients that trees and shrubs need to thrive.
In a natural setting, a major source of nutrients for plants and trees comes from the decomposition of leaves and organic matter, which is normally recycled on the forest floor. Removing leaves from the cycle (for example, by blowing and removing fallen leaves in the fall) depletes nutrients to plants. Add in the fact that trees and shrubs compete against each other, garden plants, and the lawn for the nutrients that are available, and you can see how trees and shrubs can be easily be stressed.
Supplemental fertilizing done at the right times of year and with the right combination of nutrients can make your trees and shrubs grow with the vigor they should.
Safety for You and Your Pets
We know how important the health and safety of your children and pets is. That’s why we always try to choose an organic solution when possible. If that’s not possible, we choose chemicals with the lowest toxicity and we are always cognizant of possible impacts to bee populations.
One of our cutting edge methods is the Arborjet trunk injection system that allows us to inject chemicals directly into the tree. Not only is it more effective and efficient compared to broadcast spraying or soil treatments, but it makes for a much safer environment for people and pets.