Spring is a great time to assess and address any issues your trees and shrubs may be experiencing. At Maple Hill, we approach Plant Health Care with an experienced and holistic method.
As the warm weather approaches, you will be spending more time outside enjoying your landscape. This is a great time to look for any changes in your trees and shrubs – which could include new pests, branch dieback, and abnormal leaf size or colour.
Most trees growing in urban settings face a multitude of stressors. Compacted or poor soil, heat, drought, competition for resources, nonnative and native pests and diseases, and the list goes on. It is amazing that some trees manage to grow as well as they do.
There is an overwhelming amount of information available online and not all of it is good. You may not know where to look for the right answer, or even what questions to ask. At Maple Hill, we care about your trees as much as you do, and we will work with you to develop a plant health care solution that aligns with your values, budget, and long-term landscape goals.
What is Plant Health Care?
Plant Health Care (PHC) is a holistic approach to tree care with a focus on growing and maintaining healthy plants. Healthy plants are less susceptible to stressors and are therefore less prone to pests and diseases.
A basic principle of PHC is the recognition that plant problems generally arise from a combination of stress factors.
Predisposing factors: site-specific conditions that influence the plant’s stress tolerance.
Inciting factors: insect, disease, and abiotic disorders that attack healthy plants.
Contributing factors: insect, disease, and abiotic disorders that attack plants already stressed.
Why is PHC Important?
- Trees are like people – they get sick and sometimes require regular ‘checkups’ and maintenance/treatments
- Being proactive about your tree’s health is important for maintaining the overall aesthetic of your existing landscape
- Early identification can reduce the negative impacts of pests and diseases on your property
- Maintaining your trees and shrubs provides a healthy habitat for native birds and pollinators
- Cost-effective
Common PHC Concerns
- Pests & diseases
- Soil compaction
- Lack of soil nutrients and microorganisms
- Poor drainage
- Low levels of organic matter
- Drought, heat and cold, soil contamination
- Competition with other plants in the landscape
Why Contact Maple Hill Tree Services?
- Knowledgeable, Certified Arborists who care about the environment
- We work with our clients (values/vision) and best management practices to reach realistic plant health care goals
- We offer a variety of environmentally sensitive and effective services to address your plant health care concerns
What does Maple Hill Offer?
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)- a sustainable management tool that combines biological, cultural, and physical practices to identify, manage and reduce risk from pests
- Identify and monitor both harmful pests and beneficial insects
- Air Spading – to mitigate below-grade issues including girdling roots and soil compaction
- Organic and synthetic insecticides/fungicides
- Soil Testing
- Compost Tea – introduces nutrients, organic matter, and microorganisms. Also helps reduce soil compaction
- Synthetic Fertilizer
- Composted wood chip mulch as a soil amendment
- Insect traps – Japanese Beetle, LDD moth
- Mechanical methods such as pruning affected tree parts, egg mass removal, and burlap skirts
- Tree planting and plant selection: right plant, right place
Sound like something that you might need for your property? Learn more about Plant Heath Care here.