Plant Health Care (PHC)

Plant Health Care is an emerging landscape management tool that uses a pro-active and holistic approach to managing tree and shrub health. The goal is to obtain and maintain a healthy growing environment. The results are healthier plants and aesthetics. Techniques have been developed to help change the ‘crisis management’ approach to landscape management.

Plant Health Care takes the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) pest and disease management approach to a new level by focusing on the individual plant and its growing environment. It begins with a thorough site assessment. An entire site inventory is taken locating trees and shrubs. Their current health status is described and environmental conditions are noted. Key trees and shrubs are identified, sources of stress are identified and changes if required are recommended and an annual treatment plan is put into place.

The same principles of human health management are used in Plant Health Care:

  1. Preventive care for stress management
  2. Frequent monitoring
  3. Early detection of problems
  4. Informed decision making
  5. Integrated treatments to provide long-term, stable solutions
  6. And contact and communication with client

It begins with site monitoring. Timely visits and record keeping enable a Plant Health Care Program to offer many advantages.

  1. Pest problems may be recognized and treated early on before they advance and adversely affect tree health
  2. Disease problems can be diagnosed and treated early
  3. Safety issues can be recognized possibly preventing future injury

Growing environment issues can be recognized and changes can be implemented to either reverse decline, or to maintain good tree health and vigor. Simple but effective examples are:

  1. Mulching bare soil beneath tree canopies
  2. Not allowing mulch to contact tree or shrub trunks
  3. Mitigating soil compaction
  4. Correct irrigation cycles
  5. Correct water placement
  6. Matching water needs of trees to adjacent plants
  7. Establishing and maintaining nutrient requirements

Proper plant selection, site placement, and plant cultural compatibility issues should all be taken into account during the design phase and in landscape improvements. Where conflicts exist, the PHC professional must consider making changes.

It may be necessary to remove or change the location of certain plants in order to match cultural requirements or to prevent problems such as root interference with building foundations, or hardscape. A common mistake is to plant a tree with shallow aggressive roots near hardscape features such as sidewalks, driveways or other pathways. For several years everything appears fine. Then as this tree matures, roots begin to upheave the hardscape features nearby. Not only does this look unsightly, but liability may become an issue. Be careful what you choose as a street tree, as certain species are notorious for causing damage.

Another example: When plants with high water requirements are located near plants adapted to a drought tolerate Mediterranean climate, cultural conflicts occur which may lead to decline caused by conditions that lead to pest or disease establishment. Naturally occurring fungus organisms in the soil may be triggered by over-watering during summer months. Knowledge of the cultural conditions and growing environment management is key to long-term preservation of specimen trees in the integrated landscape.

Plant Health Care Management Program

Site Analysis

1 – Environmental analysis of the site

  1. Soil pH
  2. Soil fertility
  3. Soil drainage
  4. Soil compaction
  5. Define site micro-climates
  6. Determine exposure

2 – Defining the physical characteristics of the site:

  1. Site plan with property boundaries, structures, other characteristics plotted
  2. Location of utility cables and pipes
  3. Definition of view corridors

3 – Plant inventory

  1. Inventory major trees and shrubs
  2. Assessment of relationship of tree and shrub locations
  3. Detailed description of health conditions
  4. Detailed description of physical conditions
  5. Urgent treatment recommendations
  6. Treatment and care strategies
  7. Treatment timing schedules

Locations Served

Our plant health care services are available in Aptos, Capitola, Corralitos, Freedom, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Watsonville, and other locations in Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County, and Monterey County.

Certified Arborist WE-6717A

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