INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a common term used in the tree care industry. IPM for trees and shrubs refers to using the best, or multiple, methods to limit pest damage to landscape plantings. Integrated Pest Management treatments are used for both insect control and disease control on trees and shrubs. The goal of IPM programs is to control pest populations to levels that will not cause significant plant injury. Tree or shrub fertilization may also be incorporated as a component of an Integrated Pest Management program.
Pest control, whether it is insect control or disease control, may be necessary on young trees or mature trees. Occasionally, homeowners have hesitated to have their trees or shrubs protected because they thought an application to their trees somehow hurts their lawn. Pest control products applied to your trees or shrubs should have no adverse effects to the lawn around your landscape plants. In fact, some fungicide and insecticide products that are used in the care of trees are also used in the lawn care industry.
The timing of a disease or insect control treatment is an important aspect of an Integrated Pest Management strategy. Treatments must also be applied to the correct part of the plant. If, for instance, the goal of the treatment is to control a foliar disease, then the applicator will target the tree leaves. Controlling a tree borer, on the other hand, requires spraying the tree trunk and larger limbs of the tree.
Soil or trunk injections are another method that can be used, in some cases, to control insect or disease pests on trees and shrubs. Although timing is important with these types of treatments, the application window is usually longer than it is with tree spraying.
The ISA Certified Arborists at Owen Tree Service are experts at identifying insect and disease pests that affect trees and shrubs in the Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Lapeer, and St. Clair County area. Also, our tree experts know which plants are problematic and which are relatively pest free. For example, in Michigan, Red Maple trees have relatively few insect or disease pests, but may develop Manganese Chlorosis if the soil pH is too high.
A lot of tree stresses caused by insect or disease pests on trees and shrubs could be avoided when creating a landscape design. The following tips will help you grow a healthy landscape:
• Plant trees and shrubs native to Michigan or the surrounding region. Doing this insures you’re putting in a plant that will tolerate our climatic conditions.
• A soil analysis will let you know if the soil pH is low (acidic), neutral, or high (alkaline). Some plants, such as Pin Oak trees, will not thrive and will develop yellow leaves if the soil pH is too high.
• Find out how much sunlight the plant you want to put in requires? Some plants do best in full sun, while others thrive in the shade.
• Is the tree or shrub you want to plant known to be susceptible to certain insect or disease pests in Michigan? For example, there are several hundred varieties of Crabapple trees. Some Crabapple varieties are very susceptible to Apple Scab disease, and others are highly resistant. Why not consult an ISA Certified Arborist before buying a tree and obtain a list of Apple Scab resistant Crabapple varieties.
• If you are planting the tree yourself, make sure the top of the root flare is at ground level. Planting a tree or shrub too deep will stress, and possibly kill, the plant.
An experienced ISA Certified Arborist from Owen Tree Service will be able to identify the plants on your property and the insect or disease pests that are attacking them. There may be more than one control method you can employ to control the pest. This is where consulting a tree expert will allow you to make the best decision to protect your trees from insect and disease pests.
CONTACT OWEN TREE AT:
● Leonard
Owen Tree Service provides tree, lawn, and landscape services to the following cities and towns:
Genesee County, Michigan:
● Burton
● Davison
● Flushing
● Goodrich
● Linden
● Otisville
● Clio
● Fenton
● Gaines
● Grand Blanc
● Montrose
● Otter Lake
● Flint
● Genesee
● Lennon
● Mt Morris
● Swartz Creek
Lapeer County, Michigan:
● Almont
● Brown City
● Columbiaville
● Imlay City
● Metamora
● Peck
● Attica
● Clifford
● Dryden
● Lapeer
● North Branch
● Sandusky
● Hadley
● Mayville
● Otter Lake
● Silverwood
Macomb County, Michigan:
● Armada
● Clinton Twp
● Grosse Pointe
● Macomb
● New Haven
● St Clair Shores
● Centerline
● Detroit
● Grosse Pointe Farms
● Ray
● Sterling Heights
● Chesterfield
● Eastpointe
● Grosse Pointe Shores
● Memphis
● Romeo
● Utica
● Clinton
● Fraser
● Grosse Pointe Woods
● Mt Clemens
● Roseville
● Warren
● Harrison Twp
● New Baltimore
● Shelby Twp
● Washington
Oakland County, Michigan:
● Auburn Hills
● Bloomfield Village
● Ferndale
● Orion
● South Lyon
● Berkley
● Clarkston
● Franklin
● Madison Heights
● Ortonville
● Southfield
● Beverly Hills
● Clawson
● Hazel Park
● Milford
● Oxford
● Troy
● Bingham Farms
● Commerce Twp
● Highland
● Novi
● Pleasant Ridge
● Walled Lake
● Birmingham
● Davisburg
● Holly
● Oak Park
● Pontiac
● Waterford
● Bloomfield
● Detroit
● Huntington Woods
● Oakland
● Rochester
● West Bloomfield
● Bloomfield Hills
● Farmington
● Lake Orion
● Oakland Twp
● Rochester Hills
● White Lake
● Farmington Hills
● Lathrup Village
● Orchard Lake
● Royal Oak
● Wixom
St. Clair County, Michigan:
● Algonac
● Casco
● East China
● Harbor Beach
● Lexington
● Peck
● Allenton
● Clay
● Emmett
● Harsens Island
● Marine City
● Port Huron
● Berlin
● Clyde
● Fair Haven
● Jeddo
● Marysville
● Richmond
● Brockway
● Columbus
● Fort Gratiot
● Kimball
● Memphis
● Sandusky
● Capac
● Cottrellville
● Goodells
● Lakeport
● North Street
● St Clair
