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Organic
Lawn and Garden Supply Co. / A&B Landscape Services, Inc. |
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Al |
Festaiuti |
Phone: |
716-741-3372 |
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President |
Fax: |
716-741-8463 |
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Service
Categories: |
structural
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commercial
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school
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landscape
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residential
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golf course
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A&B
Landscape Services is a full-service organic landscaping company. |
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What
is your definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? |
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IPM
involves scouting and mapping. We take a pro-active, preventative
approach in plant care health and feed the soil. This creates a healthy
plant environment resistant to pests. |
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Is pest management performed on a specific schedule? |
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Pest
management is performed while pests pose a risk, usually from March
until October. |
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How are pest problems identified? |
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Pests
are identified with the use of traps, such as sticky traps and beetle
traps. Populations are monitored with traps and tissue samples. |
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What practices
do you use to prevent and/or control pests? |
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Plant
health care is used as a preventative tool against pests. |
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Do you
use biological controls? |
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Bt,
parasitic nematodes, beneficial fungi. |
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Do you
use synthetic chemicals? |
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What
are the top 10 pesticides you use/sell/recommend? |
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insecticidal
soaps, dormant and summer oil, garlic barriers, hot pepper wax,
corn gluten meal |
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If pesticides are used, how much are used per year of each? |
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Does
your company perform habitat modification? |
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Yes,
we encourage ecosystems that benefit the environment. For example,
we plant perrenials with nectar that attracts beneficials, create
bluebird houses, bat houses, water ponds and bird baths. |
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Do you
use any physical or mechanical controls? |
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Yes,
we use compost piles. Weeds are hand-pulled. |
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What
type of fertilizers do you use/sell/recommend? |
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We
use chicken meal, a fertilizer made from composted chicken manure,
with varying degrees of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. |
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What
do you usually use/sell/recommend for addressing: |
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crabgrass |
Since
crabgrass likes compact soil, we aerate the lawn |
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dandelions |
These
weeds like compact soil and low calcium content. We increase the calcium
content and aerate the soil. Increased mowing heights also help. |
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How do
you evaluate effectiveness of your pest management |
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Over
time, organic methods work just as well if not better than synthetic
methods, and is also less expensive. |
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