Don’t get caught in the trap of “waiting till Spring” to get your Tree and Shrub Care Plan!
Tree and shrub care management has evolved greatly over the past 50 years. This is a good thing for many reasons as we work to protect our landscapes in a sustainable way. A lot of changes in a brief period also creates challenges and inconsistencies for the homeowners navigating the many services offered in their area. At TreeDocs, we are dedicated to being involved in the industry and following current recommendations. Our dedication to continuing education means that our clients are receiving the best services for their landscapes.
To elaborate further, tree and shrub care programs started as broad-spectrum pest disease services. Typically, this would look like a 3 – 5 step program, mirroring a program like turf management, because that was what was easiest for customers and salespeople to communicate around. These broad-spectrum plans were indiscriminate in nature and not remotely a good thing when talking about pesticides. It didn’t matter what kind of plants, pest or disease issue. By applying a broad combination of fungicides, insecticides and nutrients, the most common issues would like to be intercepted. It didn’t take long for the public to question the safety of broadcasting pesticides into the environment and residences. So how can you market and charge for pest control if you aren’t selling gallons of product for a set number of visits?
Introducing the Integrated Approach through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The goal is the same as earlier programs. We want to keep plants and trees healthy in our landscape. Rather than selling gallons to customers, we are interested in reducing pesticide use while increasing the efficacy of programs. This is centered around regular inspections of plant material, proper identification of the problem and prescription of a treatment program that doesn’t rely solely on pesticide application. It works!
Tree and Shrub Healthcare Plans with TreeDocs are meant to be preventative as much as possible. Having your program in place BEFORE spring is critical to make sure we aren’t being reactive in our treatments. Our current customers have come to expect an annual visit in late Fall through late winter to do a full inspection looking for pruning, supplemental support, soil care and healthcare needs. These are truly tailored care plans and a strong relationship often forms between the homeowner and their Arborist.
