Plant Health Care

Plant Health Care is a preventive management philosophy; a healthy tree is more resistant to insect infestations and disease infections due to natural defense mechanisms.

Plant Health Care uses all aspects of the arboriculture industry. Proper planting, pruning, fertilizing and monitoring are critical to maintain the vigour and vitality of trees and shrubs. Cultural and maintenance practices are used to eliminate and reduce the factors that stress or predispose a tree to further insect and disease attacks.

Our policy of using low toxicity products at the correct timing of vulnerable insect stages is the basis for our spray treatment programs. Practicing within the new cosmetic pesticide bylaws in each area proved less of a challenge at Shady Lane because we were already using the most environmentally friendly product and method for each particular insect or disease.

While we recognize that results are paramount, the method of treatment also has a role in the decision process. Therefore, we have use methods other than spraying, such as Maujet injections, pheromone traps, biological products and beneficial insects.

Plant Monitor Program

The Plant Monitor program (PM) is Shady Lane’s unique interpretation of Plant Health Care philosophy. This program incorporates the needs of the site, client expectations and management techniques to maintain a healthy and vigorous landscape. A trained, specialized Certified Arborist will perform site visits and implement and recommend effective strategies to promote the long-term health of your landscape.

The PM program is available as a tool for all property sizes and needs. Homeowners will find their gardens healthier and more beautiful, commercial property managers will see increased value in their sites and golf course superintendents will find it useful for maintaining high profile areas such as the club house, signature holes and greens. Contact our office and schedule an appointment to discover how it may benefit your property. Contact Us

Tree insects and disease - Ontario Region

Aphids

Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. The damage they do to plants has made them enemies of farmers and gardeners the world over, but from a zoological standpoint they are a very successful group of organisms. Their success is in part due to the asexual reproduction capability of some species.

Beech woolly aphid

A small insect in the order Hemiptera that feeds on the sap of American beech trees. The aphids form dense colonies on small branches and the undersides of leaves.

Boxwood Leafminer

The boxwood leafminer is a serious pest of Pennsylvania plantings of boxwood, Buxus spp. It was first reported as a pest in the United States in 1910. Now it is found across the United States and Canada - wherever boxwood grows.

Emerald ash borer

In North America the borer is an invasive species, highly destructive to ash trees in its introduced range. The potential damage of this insect rivals that of Chestnut blight and Dutch Elm Disease. Since its accidental introduction into the United States and Canada in the 1990s, and its subsequent detection in 2002. It has killed at least 50 to 100 million ash trees so far and threatens to kill most of the 7.5 billion ash trees throughout North America.

Euonymus Scale

The euonymus scale is a key pest of deciduous and evergreen euonymus, Euonymus spp., pachysandra, Pachysandra spp., and bittersweet, Celastrus spp. Vine-type euonymus are extremely susceptible to attack by this scale. This armored scale insect is native to Japan and China. It is now established in the United States and Canada.

PTR on pears

VERTICILLIUM WILT OF MAPLE

Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that affects over 300 broad-leaved species of plants.

Needle cast of pine and spruce

Needle cast is a term used to describe fungal diseases that cause trees to shed needles. The symptoms of needle cast first appear on needles as light green to yellow spots, which eventually turn red or brown.

Apple fireblight

Fire blight, also written fireblight, is a contagious disease affecting apples, pears, and some other members of the family Rosaceae. It is a serious concern to producers of apples and pears. Under optimal conditions, it can destroy an entire orchard in a single growing season.

Birch catkin

The adult is reddish-brown with clear wing tips extending beyond the abdomen. It belongs
to the same family as the hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon, a pest
of turfgrasses, but lacks the small white area on the wings.

Cherry black knot

The fungus, Dibotryon morbosum, causes this potentially serious disease which affects both wild and cultivated species of chokecherry to domestic varieties. Yield is reduced since severely infected trees are stunted and because control necessitates pruning to remove the knots.

Mountain ash sawfly

As its name suggests, this exotic pest only attacks mountain ash. However, its larvae can cause rapid, severe defoliation that nonetheless rarely kills the host.

Maple anthracnose

Fungi that attack many of our finest shade trees.

Apple scab

Disease to Malus trees, such as apple trees, caused by the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis. The disease manifests as dull black or grey-brown lesions on the surface of tree leaves, buds or fruits. Lesions may also appear less frequently on the woody tissues of the tree. Fruits and the undersides of leaves are especially susceptible. The disease rarely kills its host, but can significantly reduce fruit yields and fruit quality.

Birch leafminer

Birch leafminers are sawflies, which are closely related to bees and wasps. They are among the most common insect pests affecting Birch trees (Betula spp.) in North America. Areas inside the leaves are consumed by the larvae affecting the leaves' ability to produce food. Yearly browning of birch leaves are noticed in mid July and August, but the leafminers have been feeding inside the leaf tissue since early spring.

Eastern tent caterpillar

The eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum is a pest native to North America.

Maple verticilium wilt

Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that affects over 300 broad-leaved species of plants.

Magnolia scale

The magnolia scale is one of the largest scale insects. It feeds only on magnolia. This species is native to Canada and is widely distributed throughout eastern Canada.