Ask the Arborist

• Q:What happens if it rains after our trees and shrubs are treated?

  A: At True Care, we use a variety of adjuvant products (spreader/stickers) in our foliar blends. The results are that our treatments will not be harmed during a slight rain/mist, or if the plant materiel is wet before we make an application. If it rains heavily less than 1 hour after a treatment, we will return and re-apply, with a free service call, to insure optimum results for your landscape.

• Q: What is that Moss and Lichens on the bark?

  A: The bark of some trees and shrubs can develop fungi, algae, lichens or moss. These are non-parasitic organisms that do not injure the plants on which they grow. Lichens and Moss develop on vigorous plants to some degree in areas where the humidity is high, as in our Northwest environment. They will grow more profusely on trees and shrubs which have been neglected¯especially where branches have become overcrowded or are lacking vigor. When those branches die completely, the Moss and Lichens are often unduly blamed for the decline.

• Q: What is I.P.M.?

  A: IPM is the method for pest management that focuses primarily on preventing problems. The program planning involves knowledge of environment, biology, habits, and life cycle to identify the weakness in a pest's life cycle. This knowledge allows for proactive action before the heaviest potential damage is done. Knowing the difference between beneficial organisms and pests is also crucial in how treatment decisions are made. Complete eradication of a pest is not always a goal of IPM. The total elimination of a pest may also cause the loss of beneficial predators or parasites that need the pest in question to feed on and survive, disrupting environmental balance. The technicians at True Care Inc. are skilled in achieving results that give plants the very best aesthetic and economic results. Strategies may include suggesting or implementing cultural, mechanical, biological controls, and using pest-specific pesticides to keep landscapes healthy and rewarding.

• Q: What is Plant Health Care?

  A: Plant Health Care is a program developed in the 1980´s, incorporating IPM (Integrated Pest Management). Plant Health Care goes farther than IPM, in that it focuses on the health of the whole ecosystem of a landscape, instead of just pest management. Each program is customized to the diversity of each landscape. We tap into a large reservoir of information, plant identification, disease knowledge, and insect identification, based on education and years of experience in the Pacific Northwest. Solutions could be a simple change in your lawn irrigation schedule¯many trees are kept too moist¯to more detailed suggestions, such as pruning, or mulching.
  Every landscape is unique, the monitoring and treatment frequency and complexity of every program depends on the diversity of each landscape, as well as the desire of each client. Give us a call today, to schedule a visit from our Certified Arborists, to determine your needs.

• Q:Pesticide Safety?

  A: Many customers are concerned about the use of pesticides in the environment¯all with good reason. All pesticides, organic or not, that are used, stored, and disposed of incorrectly can harm the environment, non-target organisms (beneficial insects, wild life, etc.), as well as the applicator. At True Care Inc., there is no use of any Organophosphates or Chlorinated Hydrocarbons that have been reported on in the news. Instead, treatments involve the use of pesticides that are designed after "natural″ pesticides. For example, we use "pyrethroid″ insecticides, which are modeled from pyrethrums, which are natural, plant derived pesticides. Insect growth regulators may also be used to mimic hormones that affect insect growth. Additional treatments may include plant bacteria, plant viruses, and other natural pest controlling agents called "bio-rational″ pesticides that have little to no enduring effects on non-target organisms.
  All of our foliar treatments are applied low volume, high pressure vapor which reduces wasteful run off. Our treatments involving soil or truck injections are applied with closed and contained tools. Otherwise, concentrated forms of normal pesticide materials are not brought onto our customer´s property, unless a certain product is needed for a specific, exceptional treatment

• Q:Beneficial Insects and Animals in your yard?

  A: Beneficial insect can be categorized into two distinct groups. There are the "Predator″ insects that actually hunts, captures and feeds on a number of pest in its lifetime. And the "Parasitoid″ that lays eggs in, on or near destructive insects. Some of the beneficial insects in your garden might be Lady Bugs, (Lady Bird Beetles), Lacewings, Surphid flies, predatory mites, and various kinds of wasps. Predatory, and Parasitoid insects often look very scary to the human eye. Surphid flies look like bees, but can not sting. Many wasps are blamed for human stings, when what looks like a "stinger″ is only an egg layer, to deposit eggs into another insect.
  Don´t forget frogs, toads and garter snakes, in your garden. They eat harmful insects and even slugs. They often startle us, with fast movement, when they are threatened, but cause no harm to people.

• Q: Bee Safety?

  A: Bees are important pollinators for many kinds of plants, and very important to our planet. There are many other pollinators that need protecting as well.
  During flowering, we do not add insecticides to our fungicide treatments, unless there is an enormous over-population of destructive insects that could otherwise damage a tree. In studies, fungicides alone seem to cause little trouble for pollinators. When high populations of destructive insects are present, we then choose insecticides that are less hazardous to pollinating insects with shorter residual periods. We use all pesticides in a manner consistent with label directions. Labels usually include specific restrictions that protect bees.

• Q: What is included in your services?

  A: Each project consumes customized needs depending upon the task at hand.
  Contact us to find out how well we can accommodate your needs.

• Q: How far will you travel?

  A: Anywhere within the Portland Metropolitan area. Optional travel fees for areas outside of this service area.Contact us to discuss further options.

• Q:What days do you work?

  A: Our preferred service days are Monday to Friday; occasionally weekends when scheduled well in advance. Contact us to schedule your next project.

• Q: Where are you located?

  A: Our office is off of Boones Ferry Rd in Aurora, Oregon. For mailing address, click here.