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 Greenleaf Organic Pest Management, Inc.

Stan Lake Phone: 877-524-7336

President Fax:  

10940 Vanowen St. Website: www.greenleafpest.com

North Hollywood CA 91605 Email:  

Service Categories: structural commercial school

landscape residential golf course

other: 

We are the original Organic Pest Management Company in California and the only one recognized by that name by the California Structural Pest Control Board. Many companies are licensed in both General Pests and Termites as we are but we also offer Agricultural/Landscape pest control, Wild Animal Trapping, TAP pest insulation, CleanSpace (crawlspace encapsulation) and we are certified Mold Remediators. We have a staff entomologist and we can handle any pest problem you have.


What is your definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

IPM is the bringing together of diverse fields of expertise and talents to locate the cause of pest problems, ascertain their level of harm or annoyance and create a solution that is environmentally and economically sensible. This might include attention to sanitation, exclusion, lighting, enlisting beneficial predators as well as judicious use of natural pesticides that have the least impact on the environment.

Is pest management performed on a specific schedule?

Every situtation is unique but we do have many residential clients that want a regular service to keep pest populations in check without them having to call us for emergency services. Some are monthly, every two months, quarterly, etc. Some clients want us to leave spiders alone as they are generally beneficial and others want them removed as completely as possible. As a generic example, if a client hires us specifically to ensure they are free of ants in and around the home, our regular service would include inspecting for any nests or trails of ants in and around the property. We would also look for conducive conditions that would attract and feed the ants such as honeydew producing instects infesting their landscape or an accessible recycle bin with unwashed soda cans. If a treatment was needed we would provide it. If the client does not have a problem and does not want a preventative treatment then we would do nothing until the next inspection or if we are notified of a problem.

How are pest problems identified?

Unlike most companies, we only hire Field Representatives to control pests. Most companies use Applicators to simply disperse the pesticides they are told to use. They have no knowledge of pest biology, IPM controls, state rules and regulations and only scant understanding of chemicals and their formulations. They cannot legally identify ANY pest, recommend any treatment or provide any service unless a Field Representative or Operator intervenes. Depending on the pest problem, our Field Representatives will monitor accounts via the use of pheromone or sticky traps. Some accounts are self-monitoring, meaning they prefer to call us as soon as they detect a problem.

What practices do you use to prevent and/or control pests?

This is an important component of IPM. Prevention comes about by the use of physical, mechanical and biological controls, along with proper sanitation practices. Controlling pests is done by finding out why they are attracted to the site in question and removing or altering the attraction if practical. An example of this is a food facility with a fly problem coming from a dumpster. A steam cleaning of the dumpster, relocating it further from the back door and always keeping the lids shut took care of the problem without the use of pesticides.

Do you use biological controls?

Yes, we offer the use of Beneficial Nematodes, Lady Beetles, and Lacewings.

Do you use borates?

Yes, borates are primarily used in WDO (Wood Destroying Organism) control and as the active ingredient in several insect baits. It is also the active ingredient in our T.A.P. attic insulation.

Do you use synthetic chemicals?

Yes, primarily fipronil for subterranean termites. Fipronil is also commonly used on pets for the control of fleas and ticks. We use about one one-hundredth of that concentration for the control of subterranean termites. It works like a bait in that it does not kill termites immediately, allowing them to share it with the colony wherever they may be hiding.

What are the top 10 pesticides you use/sell/recommend?

Rosemary Oil, Neem Oil, Peppermint Oil, Orange Oil, Cedar Oil, Boric Acid, Beneficial Nematodes, Linalool, Abemectin, Pyrethrins.

If pesticides are used, how much are used per year of each?

All told, with thousands and thousands of appilcations we use hundreds of gallons or pounds of essential oils, borates and other natural products.

Does your company perform habitat modification?

Yes, an example is a client with a rodent problem. We built a firewood stand to raise the client's wood off the ground eliminating that as a likely harborage, we trimmed tree branches away from the home to deny the rodents access to the roof, we had the customer's gardeners trim the Algerian Ivy lower to the ground to make it less attractive to the rodents.

Do you use any physical or mechanical controls?

On the above rodent example, the clients also had food sources that attracted the rodents, a bird feeder and a citrus tree. We placed a smooth, two-foot wide metal band around the trunk of the tree that the rodents could not cross and we built an inverted cone around the bird feeder that did not allow the rodents to cross and reach the bird food. The home itself also had openings allowing the rodents into the attic and subarea. At the base of the home there was an old defective crawlspace screen. We poured a new concrete footing and custom built a new frame and tight fitting metal screen. On the roof we found small holes that had been enlarged by chewing rodents. These areas were sealed with several layers of galvanized mesh and painted with house paint even though they were not visible from the ground.

What type of fertilizers do you use/sell/recommend?

AAgrand Organic liquid fertilizer.

 

What do you usually use/sell/recommend for addressing:

termites For subs, remove any excessive moisture conditions and cellulose debris, install a CleanSpace barrier and monitor future activity. Treat with fipronil if necessary. For drywoods, treat locally with a combination of Orange Oil and Borates. In either case we would replace damaged wood as needed

cockroaches Insect Growth Regulators and Baits

fleas Recommend steam cleaning of carpets and furniture that are infested, remove or treat the source of the problem such as an opossum or feral cat, use Insect Growth Regulators and Linalool or Pyrethrins as needed.

carpenter ants If a satellite nest is located in an interior wall void we would find it by use of stethoscope and treat the nest with a desiccant dust. Exterior nests are treated directly with orange oil or pyrethrins.

fire ants We do not have the same vicious red imported fire ants that they do in say, the South, but if we did we would most likely treat the exterior nests directly.

ants (indoor) Find the nest, treat it directly with one of our organic products, wipe up trails with soap and water, caulk entry ways such as cracks and crevices.

crabgrass Remove by hand.
  dandelions Remove by hand.
  moisture or allergen problems in home Completely clean under the home removing construction debris, animal nests, fallen insulation and anything else that does not belong. Level the soil and install a sump pump if necessary to divert water out from under the home. Install a 20-mil thick CleanSpace liner with a 25 year warranty to separate the home from the dirt crawlspace. Treat all accessible bare wood with borates.

insect pests in attic Remove existing fiberglass or vermiculite insulation if requested. Clean any areas where wild animals have nested. Install the recommended amount of T.A.P. insulation to provide better retention of heating and cooling, better sound proofing qualities, better fire retardant capabilities, monthly savings on utility bills and the high level of borates also provide protection from any insects such as termites, silverfish or crickets that try to infest your attic.
   

How do you evaluate effectiveness of your pest management

Our primary focus is on customer satisfaction. Once we have determined and agreed upon what our clients want we seek to exceed their expectations and back it up with a money back guarantee.

References
  Ms. Ann Masterson, 9906 Wornom Ave., Shadow Hills, CA 91040; Kay Iwata, 5259 Supulveda Blvd #17, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411