Tree & Shrub Healthcare Program

The proactiive Integrated Plant Management (IPM) approach is quickly becoming the leading philosophy in plant halth care. Harrington's trained environmental horticulturists have been practicing IPM for over a decade. This approach involves examining your plants for insect, pest, disease and cultural problems that could harm or reduce their aesthetic value and preventing or treating them during eight to thirteen inspections throughout the growing season. This program is customized for your property and includes some or all of the following services:

Insect/Disease Inspections & Control

A technician will visit your property up to six times from April through September and inspect and treat your ornamental trees and shrubs using the safest, most advanced methods available. Trees and shrubs under our care are still subject to stresses and environmental conditions over which we have no control. There may be additional charges for extreme situations.

Beneficial Insect Releases

A technician may bring species of insects that will parasitize or prey on insect pests that are attacking your plants. This method of pest control is a completely natural alternative to insecticide sprays. These releases may be done as part of routine ornamental tree and shrub inspections. Species used can include: Lady Bird beetles, Lace wings and Preying Mantis. These insects will not harm your plants or you in any way.

Organic Deep Root Fertilization

In nature, trees and shrubs are fed through the decomposition of forest litter. This benefit is not provided by the home landscape. Our deep root fertilization provides a needed feeding with nutrients and organic soil conditioners, keeping plants healthy and helping them to resist disease.

Systemic Soil Injection to Control Pests

We soil inject insecticides (to manage insects) and/or natural beneficial soil bacteria, atinomycetes and fungi (to manage diseases). Materials are absorbed by the root system and move through the plant's vascular system and/or re-colonize the soil with beneficial microbes to protect the roots from pathogens.

Organic Bed Surface Fertilization

(for ground covers and perennials) This granular humus works quickly to rebuild tired, depleted and over worked soils. The humus and minerals found in our soil conditioner supply plants with all they need to stay healthy.

Horticultural Oil Spray

We selectively apply dormant oil to your plant material in early spring or late fall. This non-toxic application smothers and suffocates insects and/or eggs.

Weed Bed Control

An application of our 100% organic pre-emergent in the spring, with a follow-up of our 100% organic post-emergent treatment throughout the growing season to eliminate weeds from shrub beds, parking lots, cracks and crevices.

Pelletized Compost/Natural Fertilizers

Organic compost and fertilizer application promotes soil biology by providing beneficial fungi and bacteria. For use in shrub and bed areas. Can replace mulch. Also an excellent soil amendment and fertilizer in vegetable and perennial gardens.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid initially invaded the United States in the 1920’s. This insect was introduced from Asia and has been working its way up the east coast, arriving in Connecticut in 1985. Adelgids have defoliated and killed large numbers of native Canadian hemlock trees throughout American forests. Adelgids are cool weather insects and well adapted to the New England climate, so adult adelgids can be found almost any time of year. They look like globular masses of cottony/waxy tufts, resembling the end of a q-tip, found on bark, foliage and twigs.

Winter Evergreen Protection

A non-toxic anti-desiccant overcoat protects your broadleaf and evergreen shrubs from winter burn by slowing evaporation rates by as much as 80%.

Deer Protection

(1-3 applications) This product is OMRI Certified Organic and contains 100% all natural ingredients, no synthetic additives, is non-toxic and is safe for the environment and your family. It repels by emiiting an odor that browsing animals associate with predator activity, causing them to avoid plants before they bite- not after!

Tick Control

One to three applications March-October of a natural botanical controls all stages of deer ticks. Areas to be treated can include lawns and woodland borders.

Trunk Injection

We have developed and patented Arborjet, the first fully functional and effective minimally invasive trunk injection system. We use the Arborjet System to inject natural insecticides (botanicals), fungicides or nutrients into the vascular systems of trees or shrubs, where they move throughout the plant, treating from within. Arborjet eliminates the need for external pressurized capsules, messy spraying and damage to plants other injection methods can cause.

The Arborjet System

The Arborjet method uses the smallest microinjection site possible and does little damage to the functional xylem. Nontoxic, environmentally safe products custom developed to enhance plant defenses are often used with Arborjet. Arboricultural Services We are certified arborists, fully qualified to care for your valuable trees and shrubs. In addition to our plant health care services, we are available for tree physicals and consultations. Consultations Our licensed technicians are available to offer professional landscape advice. Consultations are charged by the hour at a reasonable rate.