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Leahy
Organic Lawn Care Division, Leahy Landscaping |
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David |
Knodel |
Phone: |
781-581-3489 |
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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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We
offer an organic lawn care service using 100% organic fertilizers
and additional cultural practices including soil sampling. In addition,
our Plant Health Care division promotes IPM for disease and insect
detection then use the least toxic remedy for the pest involved. We
also use liquid organic fertilizers when deep root feeding. Above
and beyond these two divisions, we are a mixed business and provide
all landscape services to include design/build, maintenance, irrigation,
snow removal, and landcape lighting. |
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What is
your definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? |
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Scouting
for potential and existing problems and then select, if necessary,
the least toxic solution for them. Treatment options are discussed
with the homeowner prior to the application so that the proper knowledge/information
is disseminated to the client, allowing them to be educated and included
in the decision making. |
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Is pest
management performed on a specific schedule? |
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For
both the lawn care and plant health care, IPM scouting is typically
don eduring regularly scheduled visits with attention to the time
of year when specific pests are likely to be present. We respond timely
toa client request (phone call/email) to identify and apparent problem
outside of regularly scheduled visits. |
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How are
pest problems identified? |
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Identification
is performed by trained knowledgabel staff and as necessary, samples
are collected and shipped to the appropriate laboratory if the staff
is unsure of the exact identification. Once an accurate ID is made,
the appropriate control is selected, again with input from the client. |
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What practices
do you use to prevent and/or control pests? |
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Visual
inspections and proactive non-toxic controls as necessary or as desired
by the client. |
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Do you
use biological controls? |
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Beneficial
nematodes are used in the control of beetly larvae as necessary to
reduce turf damage. Beneficial bacteria and pyrethrums are used by
the plant health care group. Compost teat is used by both divisions
to aid in disease resistance and improved soil quality. |
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Do you
use synthetic chemicals? |
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If
necessary to protect significant loss and in consultation with the
client, we use herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to control
an infestation. |
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What are
the top 10 pesticides you use/sell/recommend? |
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Herbicides
and fungicides with less emphasis on insecticides. We do not sell
any products. |
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If pesticides are used, how much are used per year of each? |
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Annual
usage is difficult to quanity as there are so many seasonal factors
athat are involved when determining a need for such control. Herbicides
are used in the liquid form in a small spray to "spot treat"
extensive unwanted vegetation in a lawn, for example. Plant Health
Care uses an injection method to treat symptoms in ornamental trees
and shrubs. |
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Does your
company perform habitat modification? |
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No,
except if tick barriers would fall into this category. Some pruning
techniques can provide some modification such as increasing available
sunlight exposure. |
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Do you
use any physical or mechanical controls? |
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For
turf care, core aeration, slice seeding/over-seeding and/or topdressing
with loam/compost/seed are utilized to improve thin or worn areas.
Proactive and benefical pruning methods are used to improve the health
and potential resistance of pests in ornamental trees and shrubs. |
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What type
of fertilizers do you use/sell/recommend? |
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Custom
blends based on composed poultry litter and fortified the bone/feather
meals and humates.
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What do
you usually use/sell/recommend for addressing: |
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fire ants |
N/A |
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ants (indoor)
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N/A |
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crabgrass |
hand
removal, soil testing and amendments, liquid herbicide spot treatments
when necessary |
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dandelions |
hand
removal, soil testing and amendments, liquid herbicide spot treatments
when necessary |
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How do
you evaluate effectiveness of your pest management |
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When
possible, written documentation and visual inspections both seasonal
and annual. |
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