Master Level Tree Care in Sudbury/North Bay

Plant Health Care
(Coming Soon)
The size and longevity of trees and shrubs warrant special attention. Annual plants can be replaced in a few short weeks, and a lawn can be replaced in a single growing season, but replacing a mature tree can take a lifetime.

Plant Health Care requires a comprehensive knowledge of the individual components of tree care and an understanding of how all of these components interact to influence tree growth and development. PHC considers the entire plant and the environment in which it is growing. Ideally, PHC starts with the plant and its site selection and continues through the plant's life. Yet, not all negative outcomes can be avoided using PHC. Nature, often with the help of human activities, will continue to provide us with extreme weather, pest outbreaks and other phenomena. But an otherwise healthy tree that is well adapted to the environment in which it is growing is more likely to resist environmental stresses (e.g. drought, floods, extreme cold) or recover from catastrophic change (e.g. ice storm, an altered water table, exotic insect infestation).

Gary Watson's research illustrates the increased root density below mulch (right) compared to turfgrass cover (left).

Mulching Service
(Current Service)

The benefits of mulching and its effectiveness in improving root development and plant vigour have been documented in scientific literature for nearly a century. Unfortunately, a lot of landscapers, homeowners, and even arborists aren't clear on the best ways to use mulch to get those benefits. Just take a look at how often people pile mulch against the trunks of trees and shrubs to see how widespread the misunderstanding is.

Mulch truly is worth its weight in gold if selected and used properly. Research shows that spreading an 8-foot circle of mulch around young trees can boost their root density four times more than if they were competing with grass and not mulched. For older trees, mulching can increase fine root densities by up to 15 times compared to trees growing with grass and no mulch. Plus, using mulch the right way can lower soil pH, reduce leaf yellowing, hold more moisture, enhance beneficial fungi in the soil, improve soil structure and drainage, and reduce soil compaction over several years.

Trees naturally create their own mulch each year by dropping, leaves, twigs, flowers, and fruit. This mulch smothers grass and weed competition, moderates soil temperatures, and conserves moisture needed during environmental stresses. Mother Nature applies these mulches in thin layers that extend to the drip line of the tree or beyond. Arborists who understand these natural processes and mimic them are less prone to making mistakes that cause undesirable consequences for the trees. Although organic mulches need periodic replacement and maintenance to keep them looking attractive, when properly applied, their many functional benefits make them one of the most economical and beneficial cultural practices known to enhance plant health and vigour.

Request a Service and we can certainly help you achieve optimal plant health.

Learn what plant health care means, what its implication involves, and how trees and shrubs benefit from it.

Why Contact Arbor Viridis for Plant Health Care?

Our Arborists have the experience and training to detect potential tree and shrub problems before they become life-threatening or hazardous.

Our Arborists can prescribe services for trees and shrubs to prevent problems.

Our Arborists can consult with other landscape and lawn care services to coordinate treatments.

What Does a Tree and Shrub PHC Program Cover?

Just as no two landscapes are identical and client objectives vary, there is no universal Plant Health Care (PHC) program. However, all successful PHC programs share key features.

PHC is essential for monitoring the health of trees and shrubs, enabling the early detection and management of issues before they become serious. This monitoring can range from annual visits to more frequent inspections, such as monthly check-ups, tailored to the size and diversity of your landscape as well as your specific goals.

When problems or potential issues are identified during a monitoring visit, your Arbor Viridis arborist will collaborate with you to create effective solutions. For instance, they may advise adjusting lawn irrigation to prevent excessive moisture that can negatively impact tree roots.

Additional solutions may include strategic pruning or targeted pesticide applications. Your Arbor Viridis arborist will provide comprehensive information about your trees and shrubs, empowering you to make confident management decisions that align with your budget and objectives.

What Will an Arbor Viridis PHC Program Cost?

Each Plant Health Care (PHC) program is expertly tailored to meet the specific needs of your landscape. Accurate pricing is determined through an Arbor Viridis arborist’s thorough site visit and assessment. Whether you're interested in a targeted plan for a few key trees or an inclusive approach for your entire landscape, we have you covered.

PHC programs offer flexibility in their structure. Some provide monitoring for a fee and bill separately for each treatment, while others charge an annual fee that encompasses all seasonal monitoring visits and a range of potential treatments. With these comprehensive Arbor Viridis programs, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that treatments for most potential issues are pre-covered, eliminating unexpected costs.

At the core of PHC is the commitment to individualized service and flexibility. Trust that your Arbor Viridis arborist will design a Plant Health Care program that perfectly aligns with your goals and fits your budget.

Ensuring optimal plant health requires vigilant monitoring and proactive preventative treatments for your trees. Signs such as discoloured leaves, dead branches, or early leaf drop are clear indicators that it's time to consult an arborist.

While some issues may be minor and easily addressed, others can be more complex and necessitate a thorough solution. It's crucial to act promptly; if problems are left undetected for too long, tree removal may be the only viable option. Take charge of your trees’ health to prevent serious issues down the line.

The Solution: Plant Health Care

To provide property owners with more options, Arbor Viridis arborists create Plant Health Care (PHC) programs. The goal of PHC is to maintain or enhance the landscape's appearance, health, and safety by using the most effective and environmentally sensitive practices and treatments available. PHC includes regular monitoring, preventive treatments, and a collaborative relationship between the arborist and the property owner.

Plant Health Care Programs (Coming Soon)

Arbor Viridis provides a wide range of treatments for trees and shrubs in Northern Ontario, using Integrated Pest Management to reduce pesticide use and increase biodiversity.

Below is a short list of programs that we can offer.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
Dutch Elm Disease (DED)
Hemlock Wholly Adelgids
Two Lined Chestnut Borer
Bronze Birch Borer
Spruce Budworm
Tent Caterpillars
Aphids
Whiteflies
Soft Scale & Armoured Scale

Oak Phylloxera
Two-spotted Spider Mites
Spruce Spider Mites
Boxwood Spider Mites
Blister Mites
European Red Mite
Weevils
Thrips
Leaf-rollers & Skelonizers

Why Plant Health Care, Not Tree Health Care?

Trees play a vital role in your home's landscape, working together with turf grasses, shrubs, and other plants that thrive in the same soil. Their roots intertwine, competing for essential water and nutrients, and a mature tree’s roots can reach well into your lawn or flower beds.

It's important to understand that any treatment applied to the lawn will undoubtedly affect the appearance and health of the trees. Likewise, treatments administered to trees have a significant impact on the vitality of the turf grass below.

The way you care for each plant in your landscape directly influences the health of all the plants in that space. A cohesive approach to landscaping ensures a thriving environment for every plant.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

We don't believe in "blanket spraying." Our IPM approach is a science-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention and targeted treatments that are safe for your family, pets, and pollinators.

The Arbor Viridis 5-Step Process

Identification: We pinpoint the exact pest or pathogen. Treating a fungus like an insect is a waste of your money and harmful to the tree.
Monitoring: We assess the population. Are there enough "bad bugs" to cause damage, or are "good bugs" (predators) already handling the problem?
Thresholds: We determine the tipping point. A few insects are part of a healthy ecosystem; we only intervene when the tree's health or aesthetics are at risk. This is an ongoing process that changes and requires diligent communication between arborist and client.
Cultural Controls: We boost the tree's natural immunity through structural pruning and soil health (Air-Spade), making it a "hard target" for pests.
Targeted Intervention: If treatment is required, we use the most "surgical" methods available to minimise environmental impact.

Pesticides should always be used only as a last resort. Overuse kills the native predators and parasites and aids in pests building chemical resistance. If the use of pesticides is infrequent, then when we make that choice, they will work much more effectively.

Advanced Treatment Methods

Systemic Trunk Injections: We inject "medicine" directly into the tree's vascular system. This ensures zero environmental drift and zero soil runoff. It is the safest way to treat pests like Emerald Ash Borer or Scale.
Beneficial Insect Releases: We can augment your landscape’s natural defenses by releasing predatory insects (like ladybugs or lacewings) to hunt pests naturally. Most of these predators will overwinter on your property, helping to keep the pests at bay for many years.
Organic Fungal Controls: Managing diseases like Powdery Mildew or Anthracnose using eco-friendly, targeted applications.

The "Zero Pest" Myth: A healthy garden is not a sterile one. Attempting to reach "zero pests" with heavy chemicals often kills the beneficial predators, leading to an even bigger pest outbreak later. Our goal is Balance, not total eradication.

Need an Expert Consultation?

Fertilisation Services

Soil Health & Prescription Nutrition

In a forest, trees recycle their own nutrients through fallen leaves and decaying wood. In our yards, we remove the leaves and plant grass—leaving trees to starve in compacted, nutrient-poor soil. At Arbor Viridis, we don't just "fertilize"; we restore the forest floor's biology.

The Arbor Viridis Philosophy: Health Over Growth

Most "lawn care" fertilizers are high in nitrogen, which forces trees to grow too fast. Science shows this "fast-food growth" actually weakens a tree’s natural defenses against pests and disease. We focus on Soil Health, creating trees that are strong, resilient, and built to last.

Our Specialized Soil Services

Biochar: The "Permanent" Solution: Unlike standard fertilisers that wash away, Biochar is a carbon-rich material that stays in your soil for centuries. It acts like a microscopic sponge, holding onto water and nutrients while providing a "sanctuary" for beneficial soil fungi.
Prescription Soil Amendments: We use soil testing to determine exactly what your land is missing. Whether it's adjusting pH or adding Mycorrhizae (beneficial fungi), our treatments are "surgical," not "one-size-fits-all."
Air-Spade Soil Decompaction: Urban soil is often as hard as concrete, suffocating roots. We use our Air-Spade to safely "fluff" the soil with high-pressure air, allowing oxygen and nutrients to finally reach the root zone.
Root Collar Excavation: We clear away excess soil and mulch that "choke" the base of the tree, preventing rot and identifying girdling roots before they become fatal.

Grass! Tree's Ultimate Adversary!

Grass poses a subtle but significant challenge to trees by competing for essential resources. Grasses develop dense root systems near the soil's surface, which allows them to monopolize water and nutrients, making it difficult for trees to establish themselves. Additionally, grass contributes to the rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil and can create fire-prone conditions, especially in dry environments, which can damage or kill young trees. Some grass species also release allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants, including trees. This quiet competition, along with grass's resilience and fast growth, makes it a persistent and often underestimated threat to the establishment and survival of trees.

PRO TIP: Eliminating grass around your trees and replacing it with mulch will dramatically improve their health, minimize maintenance efforts, and ultimately save you money!

The Easiest Win: "Leave the Leaves"

Nature’s best fertiliser is free. By raking leaves into your garden beds and over your tree’s root zones, you:

Build Living Soil: Leaves break down into high-quality organic matter.
Protect Pollinators: Overwintering bees and butterflies need leaf litter to survive.
Save Money: You reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers and intensive fall cleanup.

Plant diversity above ground stimulates diversity in the soil. Through a system of checks and balances, a medley of soil organisms helps maintain low populations of many pests. Numerous researchers have shown that increasing plant diversity — and thereby habitat diversity — favours the abundance and effectiveness of natural enemies. It’s a subtle effect, but over time the advantage increases. Your backyard system moves slowly toward a natural balance and your pest problems decrease.

Did you know?
Plants and trees take up mineral elements like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus through the roots and disperse these nutrients into the leaves. Cheap fertilizer and plenty of it! The nutrient content of leaves is best used immediately after they've fallen. The faster they decompose, the faster the nutrient value is captured into the soil, increasing biodiversity. Although keeping leaves where they fall is beneficial, certain tree species, like walnuts, produce a natural chemical called Juglone that keeps seeds from germinating. It is not recommended to use these leaves in your compost pile.

How to leave the leaves
There is more than one way to handle leaves and other yard debris ecologically. Here are a few tips:

Leaf Mould: This is one of the easiest things to do with dead leaves. Pile them in a corner of your yard and let them decompose over time. It’s different from composting in that it's only leaves and no additional organic matter. Leaf mould improves soil structure and water retention, plus it's FREE!
Composting: This practice reduces the amount of debris in landfills while creating fertile new soil for your garden. Compost adds nutrients to your soil and can be added to your garden in addition to the leaf mould.
Save Up: Store excess leaves in paper bags until the spring and summer, when you have limited access to carbon-rich organic materials for compost.
Leave the Leaves: This can provide nutrients and protection to your garden.
Share Leaves: You have a lot of trees and too many leaves? That’s a good problem to have. Your neighbours, local farms, schools, campuses and gardens will add your leaves to their leaf mould or compost pile. Before sharing your leaves, inspect your plants and trees for diseases that could otherwise spread to another location. (Example: Anthracnose and powdery mildew)
Play: Your yard full of leaves can become an Autumn obstacle course or playground. Just pile and jump!

Page updated

Report abuse

Plant Health Care (Coming Soon)The size and longevity of trees and shrubs warrant special attention. Annual plants can be replaced in a few short weeks, and a lawn can be replaced in a single growing season, but replacing a mature tree can take a lifetime.

Mulching Service (Current Service)