What is Plant Health Care (PHC)?
Plant health care is the development and maintenance of healthy plants, so they are less susceptible to issues. The 4 main stressors for trees are: insects, diseases, soil, and water management. Proactively addressing these stressors results in happier, healthier, more attractive, and long-lived trees. Plus, annual PHC is typically less costly than treating a tree in advanced decline or removal so it can actually save you money in the long run!
Al Le Carte Services – Plant Health Care
- Anti-desiccant treatments – Anti-desiccant treatments are a protective coating applied to the foliage of a plant to reduce moisture loss. These are typically applied to evergreen trees and shrubs in the fall to prevent leaf loss, winter burn, and help maintain overall plant health during harsh winter conditions.
- Antibiotic / Fungicide treatments – Fungicides are organic or synthetic sprays applied to tree leaves and trunks to control fungal and fungal-like diseases. Common fungal diseases treated with fungicides include apple scab, beech leaf disease, black knot, Cedar Apple Rust, dogwood anthracnose, fire blight, needle cast on confers, peach leaf curl, tip blight, etc. The frequency and timing of fungicide treatments varies depending on the fungal issue and severity. Fungicides are essentially antibiotics for trees!
- Fertilizers treatments
- Compost tea – Compost tea is an organic liquid produced by extracting beneficial microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and micro arthropods) from compost using a brewing process. Compost tea boosts overall plant health by improving soil health and structure, increasing soil water retention, and loosening clay soils. Compost tea is typically applied every other week in the spring and every month in summer.
- Granular fertilizers – Granular fertilizers are dry, typically slow-release, fertilizers that gradually release nutrients over a long period of time. Granular fertilizers are ideal for shrubs, garden beds, landscape beds, etc. and usually only applied once in the spring or early summer. They can be followed-up later in the summer with an additional fertilizer for maximum benefit.
- Liquid / Sub-surface fertilizers – Liquid fertilizers are diluted concentrates applied to large trees, ornamental trees, fruit trees, and shrubs via soil probe to de-compact the soil, provide deep root fertilization, and promote deep root growth. Most trees benefit from two liquid fertilizer treatments per year, once in spring and again in summer. Seaweed extract fertilizer is a popular organic option!
- Insecticide treatments – According to the EPA, “insecticides are chemicals used to control insects by killing them or preventing them from engaging in undesirable or destructive behaviors.” Common insect problems treated with insecticides include emerald ash borer, hemlock wooley adelgid, Japanese beetle, oriental fruit moth, scale, spider mites, spotted lanternfly, etc. The frequency, timing, and method (trunk spray, trunk injection, soil injection, or foliar spray) of insecticide treatments varies depending on the insect population and severity. Organic options such as neem oil are available.
- Plant growth regulator – Plant growth regulators are applied to slow the growth of trees and scrubs. While they don’t stop growth completely, they typically slow plant growth significantly for a period of 2-3 years. These are an excellent way to manage fast growing trees, such as river birches, red maples, silver maples, spruces, etc., and have the added benefit of reducing the trees’ water demands. Growth regulators can be applied throughout the year.
- Root pruning – Root pruning is the process of excavating and cutting tree roots. Root pruning is often done to minimize damage to the tree’s root system during construction, in preparation for large tree transplanting, or to remove girdling roots. Root health is essential to tree health. Roots provide water and nutrients to the tree and serve as an anchor to keep it upright and structurally stable.
- Soil amendments – Soil amendments such as compost, biochar, and organic matter are often added to the soil to improve its physical or chemical properties. Best applied in early spring or late fall, soil amendments are ideal for soils lacking organic matter such as sandy soil, construction fill, and heavy clay soils.
- Tick and mosquito sprays – Organic and synthetic options are available to ward off ticks and mosquitoes. These are typically applied every 3-4 weeks for maximum efficacy.
Want the best plant healthcare possible for your trees and shrubs? Check out the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program!