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Plant Health Care and Trees

Johnson Ops Tree Care Blog

Industry news, tree health tips, recent projects, and more.

Plant Health Care and Trees “Plant health care, also called PHC, offers a total health approach to landscape and plant health,” says Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. “Your arborist will monitor your property, watching for potential or actual problems in your landscape that might be best avoided or dealt with by implementing a PHC treatment program.” Traditional landscape pest control programs rely on “cover sprays.” Selection of a cover spray is often based on the company’s knowledge of common pest problems and control measures in the service area. The cover-spray type, method and timing are pre-determined by the company. These traditional pest-control programs are not necessarily obsolete or “bad” for the environment and may be the best option for clients who have overriding concerns about program cost or are only concerned about one specific pest problem. In contrast, plant health care technicians consider the landscape in its entirety when deciding how to best care for plants. PHC technicians manage plant problems through careful monitoring of the landscape environment. Chemical controls may be part of the treatment program, but they are not likely to be used in every treatment. Because of this, every PHC program is customized to fit the client’s property and expectations. The PHC technician maintains landscape plants by: • evaluating the landscape’s environment • noting causes of plant stress (stressors) • maintaining plant performance through proper cultural practices • investigating the landscape through monitoring • identifying and treating problems as they occur The following are examples of some common problems: 1. Improper matching of the plant’s requirements to the landscape site; 2. Improperly planted; 3. Subjected to improper maintenance practices; 4. A combination of two or all three of the above. Your expectations “A PHC technician also will consider your expectations when deciding how to implement a PHC treatment program,” explains Andersen. One important question is, when do you, the client, want to resort to chemical control of pest problems? Some clients will tolerate a greater percentage of plant damage before requiring action; other clients will tolerate very little plant damage. Often a client will tolerate less damage on a prized ornamental specimen tree located in the front yard as opposed to a group of shade trees growing in the backyard. This requires the PHC technician to apply a higher action threshold to some trees and/or sections of the landscape than others. “Here, communication and understanding between the client and plant health care technician are key!” says Andersen. Treatment recommendations are then made to the client based on that client’s expectations. The key to a successful plant health care program is communication between the client and PHC technician. What can you do? A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best care for your trees. * Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional

Plant Health Care and Trees

Plant Health Care and Trees Plant health care, also called PHC, offers a total health approach to landscape and plant health, Your arborist will monitor your property, watching for potential or actual problems in your landscape that might be best avoided or dealt with by implementing a PHC treatment program. Traditional landscape pest control programs rely on “cover sprays.” The selection of a cover spray is often based on the company’s knowledge of common pest problems and control measures in the service area. The cover-spray type, method, and timing are […]

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trees chainsaws and laddersdont mix

Trees, Saws and Ladders Don’t Mix

Trees, Saws, and Ladders Don’t Mix In February 2016, a homeowner was seriously injured after falling from a ladder while trimming branches from a tree in Frederick, Oklahoma. The man was using a chainsaw to trim broken limbs from the trees around his home. One of the limbs he severed fell into his ladder, knocking it over and causing the man to fall 12 feet to the ground. The man was discovered by a neighbor, lying face down in the yard beneath the tree. The badly bent ladder and chainsaw […]

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De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants

De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants

De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants Each winter, vast quantities of de-icing salt are applied to state and municipal roads to keep them safe for commuters, and salt is spread near houses to avoid pedestrian injuries. This is necessary for safety, but did you know excessive salt can cause widespread damage to trees and shrubs – possibly leading to permanent decline and even death? De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants Salt can be absorbed by the leaves, stems, and buds of trees.  Salt runoff washes from the pavement into the ground, […]

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Three Reasons Homeowners Should Leave Tree Work to the Professionals

Reasons You Should Leave Tree Work to the Professionals

Reasons You Should Leave Tree Work to the Professionals For the “do-it-yourself” homeowner, outsourcing tree work may seem like an unnecessary expense. But in reality, the costs of tackling tree care on your own can run high – damaged property, hospital bills, and a ruined landscape aren’t cheap. Most homeowners simply don’t have the tools, knowledge, or experience necessary to attempt their own tree work safely. We hear many unfortunate stories each year of homeowners getting severely injured or killed while attempting this dangerous, and often misunderstood, work on their own. Here […]

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Decay Can Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees Johnson-ops-tree-care

Decay in Trees

Decay Can Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees Tree failure is a major cause of residential property damage and the leading cause of power outages nationwide. There are many ways a tree can fail: an ice storm can overload all the branches on a tree, a hurricane or high wind can blow down a tree if its roots are compromised, or a cracked tree can fail under its own weight. Decay in Trees Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees. Homeowners who are worried about trees falling and damaging property should call a professional […]

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Winter stress on trees

Winter Stresses on Trees

Winter Stresses on Trees  Heavy snow and ice, as well as frozen soil conditions, can damage cherished trees and shrubs in residential landscapes—even areas without major snowfall experience high winds and huge fluctuations in temperatures during winter. But homeowners can lessen the adverse effects of winter weather with preventive maintenance. What to do to reduce winter stresses on trees & shrubs: How to avoid damage to trees Branches of trees can break due to the excessive weight of ice or snow. Tree strength can be improved with proper pruning to […]

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Home Inspections Outside the House

Home Inspections Outside the House

Home Inspections Outside the House Just picture buying a lovely new house and then, a few weeks later, having a big, old oak tree fall on your roof. Or consider finding out that removing an elderly poplar tree will cost $6,000 due to its deadly root rot. Wouldn’t it be preferable to be aware of the state of any significant trees on a property before the purchase and sale contract is signed? Home inspections outside the house are just as important as the inside.  When homebuyers contemplate owning a home for […]

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a beautiful snowy day Johnson-ops-tree-care

A Beautiful Snowy Day

A Beautiful Snowy Day You wake up to a beautiful snowy day, and it looks like it will keep snowing all day. Since you’re not particularly in the mood to bundle up and go outdoors, what should you do? Perhaps now is the right moment to begin that project you’ve been considering. Let’s construct the desk, table, or bar top you’ve been envisioning. Where do I begin?  Let’s find a nice quality slab.  At Johnson Ops Tree Care we offer a wide variety of Urban Kiln dried Slabs and Lumber, […]

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View of a tree stump with roots which needs stump removal services from Johnson Ops Treecare.

Tree Stump Removal

How Long Do Tree Stumps Take To Rot?   Leftover stumps can be tough to remove on your own once a tree is cut down. Some specimens have the possibility of maintaining their root growth even after the rest of the tree is gone. Depending on the species and how well they were taken care of, tree stumps generally last for over 10 years before completely dying.  A tree stump doesn’t seem like a problem at first but it can spell trouble for the rest of the plants on your property. […]

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2022 winter project-building bluebird houses

Winter Project 2022-Building Bluebird Houses

Winter Project 2022-Building Bluebird Houses We are working on a small project now that winter is here; stop by and see our bluebird houses, which we fashioned from local urban wood. Our Winter project 2022-building bluebird houses is a fun way to utilize the small lumber we have available as well as preserve the life of these beautiful birds. With their magnificent feathers, insectivorous diets, and beautiful songs, bluebirds make excellent backyard occupants. Any birder can become a bluebird landlord by positioning the perfect bluebird house in the best possible […]

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