PLANT REGULATOR

  • What is it?
    • A product that redirects where the energy within the plant is sent
  • What plants does it benefit?
    • Most species of trees and some shrubs within our urban and natural landscapes
  • Why do I need this?
    • Increase the root system
    • Increase disease and insect resistance
    • Improve overall health and visual appeal
    • Reduce overgrowing shoots

PLANT REGULATOR: PRIMARY EFFECTS

Untreated

Treated

Primary effect of plant regulator:

  • Redirect the plants energy usage from one area to another
  • The plant’s root system is the primary location to move this energy


With a healthy root system, the plant is better able to access nutrients and water making the plant healthier and more drought tolerant.

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Soil Care

  • What is this?
    • Adjustment of soil nutrients
    • pH adjustments
    • Mimics the tree’s natural environment
  • Who is it for?
    • Anyone and everyone
      • Around your house, the neighborhood park
      • *Most all of our environments are lacking in proper nutrients for our trees.
  • Why do I need this?
    • Increase drought resistance
    • Increase disease and insect resistance
    • Induce a healthier root structure and overall healthier canopy

Soil Care

Additional Information

Every tree within our urban environment has some level of poor soil health affecting it.


In order to build our homes and streets, we have to first remove the soft upper layers of soil so that we can build on a solid foundation.


*Those upper layers of soil contain the vast majority of nutrients needed to sustain a healthy tree.*

Fast food placed on wooden table

Upper topsoil layers takes between 100-500 years/inch to naturally form.


Trees in most of our urban environments are essentially eating the equivalent of fast food every day of their life.


It sustains them yes, but it also shortens their lifespan and makes them more likely to get sick.


*Providing soil care to your trees is similar to you having a healthy diet*

Biological Control

  • What is it?
    • The use of insect predators to control unwanted pests
  • Who is it for?
    • For anyone who is looking for a natural alternative to traditional insect control
  • Why do I need this?
    • If you have insects harming your plants, then this is a safe solution to protect your plants and allow them to thrive.

Bark Beetle treatment

Photo: Gerald J. Lenhard

Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org

Photo: Albert (Bud) Mayfield

USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

  • What ARE THEY?
    • A group of beetles that bore their way into a tree in order to feed and procreate
  • WhEN TO treat for THEM?
    • Trees with active bark beetles
    • Trees with recent damage (construction, lightning strike, etc.)
    • Trees which are irreplaceable or sentimental
  • Why do I need this?
    • Untreated, the tree is likely to decline and potentially die due to damage from the beetles

Phytophthora Canker

  • What is it?
    • A pathogen that causes decay on the outside of the tree
  • Who is it for?
    • This treatment is only recommended when the pathogen is present and active along the trunk of the tree
  • Why do I need this?
    • If treated early, this disease can be managed to reduce or eliminate further decay

Root Collar Excavation

  • What is it?
    • A Root Collar Excavation (RCE) is the process of removing the excess:
      • Soil
      • Mulch
      • Root mass from around the root collar of the tree
  • Who is it for?
    • If a tree looks like a telephone pole going into the ground this treatment is needed.
    • Trees are meant to flare out at the base if you do not see this then that tree needs an RCE.
  • Why do I need this?
    • Buried root collars can cause numerous issues for the tree which can show as branch dieback, wilting, discoloration of the leaves, and several others.

Systemic Insect

Treatments

Photo: Patrick Anderson, Rainbow Ecoscience

  • What is it?
    • Systemic insect treatments refer to any treatment where the insect is controlled by a product that is taken up by the roots and dispersed throughout the plant.

Photo: isuagcenter.com

  • Who is it for?
    • This treatment is recommended as either an initial treatment to aid a biological control program or as the primary insect control for pests that can not be controlled by biological control.

Photo: Albert (Bud) Mayfield

USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

  • Why do I need this?
    • In many cases biological control can be ineffective if the pest population is too high. Thus systemic treatments are used to reduce the pest population to manageable levels.

Tree Risk Assessments

  • What is it?
    • A Tree Risk Assessment (TRA) as the name suggests assesses the risk probability of targets beneath or surrounding the tree.
  • Who is it for?
    • TRA’s can be for any tree but are usually suggested when there is concern that a tree poses a risk of failure and may cause harm if it were to fail.
  • Why do I need this?
    • TRA’s are needed when the arborist is unable to make a concrete recommendation from a visual inspection of the tree. Additionally, some city municipalities may require a TRA in order to secure a removal permit.