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Plant Health Care Outlook

January 26, 2023

The trend of the past 10 years in residential landscapes has been increasing pressure from insect pests, diseases, and vertebrates. We fully expect that this will continue in 2023 and that the plant health care outlook for the next year will include the following conditions.

  1. Increase of insect pest number and variety that will affect more ornamental plants
  2. A wet spring will bring increased soil and foliar disease pressure
  3. Damage from deer will certainly continue to increase for the foreseeable future

In addition, we are just about due for the next invasive landscape pest, following emerald ash borer (1992), brown marmorated stink bug (2001), and spotted lanternfly (2014). Investing in a program to manage the biological health of landscape plants and keep soil in good shape is the best way to ensure your landscape not only survives, but thrives. Burkholder Plant Health Care offers a broad variety of programs to control insects and diseases that are damaging plants, vertebrate pests that are eating investments, and bugs that bite, sting, and transmit diseases to people and pets.

Learn About Seasonal PHC Issues

New Discoveries and Achievements by Burkholder Plant Health Care

Burkholder PHC’s manager, Starker Wright, has been busy in the field. His work, extensive research and education, and his vast experience have led to the following achievements.

  • First identification of crape myrtle bark scale in Pennsylvania (West Chester), confirmed by Penn State Insect ID Lab.
  • Federal quarantine identification of white rust on chrysanthemum (Berwyn), confirmed by USDA-APHIS.
  • First identification of camphor shot borer damage in hemlocks (Phoenixville), confirmed by Penn State Insect ID Lab.
  • First active sampling program in Pennsylvania for vascular streak dieback disease in redbud.
  • Submission of field research article “Pre-Emergent Control of Spotted Lanternfly” in collaboration with Bartlett Tree Experts.
  • Continuing research with Bartlett Tree Experts and University of Maryland on potential impact of native predators on spotted lanternfly eggs.
Burkhoolder PHC Spray Rig - plant health care outlook

Did You Know? Plant Health Care News

On January 10th, Burning Bush (Winged Euonymus, Euonymus alatus) and four species of privet (Japanese, Border, Chinese, and Common) will be added to the list of invasive plants that will no longer be allowed to be grown for sale in Pennsylvania (https://www.agriculture.pa.gov).

These plants will join Callery (Bradford) Pear and Japanese Barberry on the Pennsylvania Controlled Plant and Noxious Weeds List, overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee (CPNWC). Many other plants are still under consideration to be banned, based on recommendations by the Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species Council (PISC). The current candidate list can be seen at https://www.plna.com/news/581035/Invasive-Species-Council-Recommends-List-of-25-Plant-Genera-to-Be-Banned.htm.

In Pennsylvania, a noxious plant is “identified as a plant that is determined to be injurious to public health, crops, livestock, agricultural land or other property and cannot be sold, transported, planted, or otherwise propagated in Pennsylvania”.

Every plant that leaves the property of Burkholder Landscaping and Sauder’s Nursery has been proactively monitored and treated to minimize spread insect and disease pests. This does not guarantee that once installed, infestations will not happen, but it does greatly reduce the risk of spreading damaging plant pests.

Contact Burkholder PHC to Improve Your Landscape’s Plant Health Care Outlook for 2023

Now you know what to expect with regard to the plant health care outlook for the coming year, and the information could help you recognize issues in your own yard. Burkholder PHC’s team of experienced, qualified arborists will visit your property, conduct a plant health care evaluation, diagnose the problems, and inform you of the recommended treatment options. In addition, we provide a proactive approach, helping encourage and maintain your trees’ health and appearance. Contact us today for a free consultation.