Over the past few years, I’ve written a lot about the emerald ash borer (EAB). Although it sometimes seems as though it’s the only insect devouring our trees, just the opposite is true. The EAB, though voracious, only attacks a single genus of tree – Fraxinus. There are plenty of other insects out there, as well as tree diseases, that aren’t as fussy about their diets.

The pests attacking our trees range from common aphids and scale to numerous beetles, moths, leaf miners and…I could go on all day. The point is that the EAB is predictable. We know its life cycle, its host tree, how to prevent it and how to treat it. Many other pests out there aren’t nearly as predictable. The only sure way to identify those pests is for a Plant Health Care professional to examine your trees and look for signs of their presence. The signs will also let the PHC pro know the stage of the infestation, which will help him/her determine the most appropriate treatment.

The only way our PHC pros can visit your property is by your invitation, and the only way they can apply any treatments or preventives is if you are on a Plant Health Care program. Even though we have begun treatments for the season, we can still create and implement a PHC program for you.

Sure, you can call us when you see insect activity, but many signs of insect activity can only be seen by the untrained eye after damage has begun. Control at this point requires more aggressive treatment, which is also more costly and less environment-friendly. Our professionals have the education and training to identify early signs of pest activity. They can then take less aggressive action since the insects are smaller, weaker and less resistant to control material.

Early treatment often means that we can use natural and organic treatments that are effective but have less of an environmental impact. When you are on a PHC program, each treatment costs less than individual treatments on an as needed basis. You also have that priceless commodity called peace of mind.

Insects and diseases aren’t going away. It’s impossible to get rid of them completely. However, they can be controlled, and the best way to control them is with a Plant Health Care program that transfers the responsibility from you to our professionals.

As you can see, I’m passionate about this subject. I hate to send a crew out to take down a stately tree that has lived for a century or more only to succumb to the appetite of a tiny insect.

To learn more, please contact our office.