Plant Health Care
Inspection-based ornamental tree and shrub care rooted in history, observation, and targeted treatment — not a spray schedule.
Your Landscape Is an Investment Worth Protecting
Ornamental trees and shrubs represent years of growth and real value in your landscape. Jake's Plant Health Care program is built on inspection first — we assess your property, review past issues, and track what's actually happening before we recommend any treatment. If a plant doesn't need intervention, we won't apply one. When treatment is warranted, we use the right product at the right time, targeting the specific pest or disease at hand rather than applying a blanket program to everything on the property. It's worth noting that our program focuses on ornamental trees and shrub plantings — we don't treat large native trees, but if you have concerns about those, we're happy to point you in the right direction.
What's Included in Plant Health Care
Dormant Oil Applications
Applied in early spring before bud break when inspection confirms overwintering insect or scale pressure. Dormant oil is only recommended where past history or current evidence justifies it — not applied as a default to every plant on the property.
Insect & Mite Control
Targeted treatments for aphids, spider mites, scale, bagworms, and other damaging insects — applied only when inspection confirms active pressure or when a plant's history makes early intervention warranted. We don't treat what isn't there.
Disease Management
Fungal diseases like apple scab, powdery mildew, leaf spot, and Diplodia tip blight are managed based on site history, plant susceptibility, and observed symptoms. Preventive applications are reserved for plants with a documented history of recurring disease pressure.
Needlecast Management
Rhizosphaera needlecast is one of the most common and damaging diseases affecting spruce trees in southeast Michigan — and one of the most frequently misdiagnosed. Jake's inspects for the characteristic needle browning and drop patterns, confirms the disease, and applies a properly timed fungicide program to protect new growth and slow the progression. Because needlecast develops over multiple seasons, early identification and consistent treatment timing are critical to recovery.
Foliar & Granular Fertilization
Foliar and granular fertilizer applications deliver nutrients where ornamental trees and shrubs need them most — recommended based on observed deficiency symptoms or soil conditions, not applied on a blanket schedule.
Soil Amendment & Biostimulants
Biostimulant applications improve the soil environment around ornamental trees and shrubs, supporting root development and natural disease resistance. Recommended where soil health assessments indicate a clear benefit.
Seasonal Monitoring
Regular site visits throughout the season let us track what's changing, catch emerging issues early, and build a documented history for each plant — so future treatment decisions are based on real data, not guesswork.
Our Plant Health Care Approach
Landscape Inspection
We walk your property and evaluate the health of your ornamental trees and shrubs, identifying existing pest or disease pressure, nutrient deficiencies, and structural concerns — and reviewing any history of past issues on the site.
History-Informed Planning
Treatment recommendations are built around what we observe and what we know about your property. Plants with a clean bill of health and no documented history of problems don't automatically receive treatments — we let the data guide the program.
Targeted Treatments Only
When treatment is needed, applications are timed to the biology of the specific pest or disease — not a generic calendar. We use the most targeted, lowest-impact product appropriate for the situation.
Documented Follow-Through
We record what we find and what we treat on every visit. That documentation builds the historical record that makes future decisions smarter — and keeps you fully informed about your landscape's health at every step.
Ornamental Trees & Shrubs We Commonly Treat
Every landscape is different. Jake's Plant Health Care program is tailored to the specific trees and shrubs on your property — not a one-size-fits-all spray schedule. Below are some of the most common species and issues we address in Washtenaw County.
Request a Landscape AssessmentStart with an Inspection, Not a Sales Pitch
Jake will walk your landscape, assess your ornamental trees and shrubs, and give you an honest recommendation — treating only what needs it. No blanket programs, no unnecessary applications.