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Florida
Organic By Design
Jeff Brower, President
310 Dawson Brown Rd.
DeLeon Springs FL 32130
386-985-5736
[email protected]
http://www.goorganicbydesign.com
Services/Products/IPM Description
Range of Products and Services
GrassWorks restores the natural balance of life and nutrition to your soil. After soil sampling and a complete soil analysis, we can balance the soil to the proper mineral, pH, and organic level for optimum growth. Then we can efficiently maintain the soil nutrition to feed the plants at optimal levels while establishing and maintaining beneficial soil microbes and earthworms. If there are existing pest problems, we eliminate those with environmentally safe organic or biological pesticides. You may chooose our monthly pest control and fertilization service or receive a year long maintenance plan where we provide the products that you apply. With either approach we will make recommendations for the best mowing, watering, pruning, fertilization, and pest control on a monthly basis. Each program in our monthly service or turn-key program is specific to your lawn and landscape based on the soil test, site evaluation, and the expectations of the property owners.
Services/Products Categories
- Residential
- Commercial
- Landscape
Definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM utilizes tools from organic, chemical, and cultural pest control disciplines. It seeks to use the lowest level of toxicity at the most efficient time of treatment based on the tolerance levels of pest populations established by the owner with the consultation of the IPM service provider. The system relies heavily on good scouting and monitoring techniques. GrassWorks takes an IPM approach but NEVER uses toxic synthetic pesticides, soil amendments, or fertilizers. If the use of organic pesticides is necessray, the least toxic and most pest-specific product is chosed. As we build the soil, pest control becomes less of an issue. Beneficial soil microbes and strong healthy plants are the best pest control available.
How Pest Problems Are Identified
All of the properties that we manage are inspected by a trained horticulturist on a monthly or more frequent basis.
Tools, Practices, and Materials Used/Sold
Practices Used to Prevent or Control Pests
Extensive site analysis to determine inital and potential problems. Soil balancing and establishing of beneficial soil microbes. Constant landscape monitoring. Encouraging and/or releasing beneficial insects. Soil aeration; proper plant selection, pruning, mowings, and watering techniques; biological mulches; maintaining optimum soil nurtition levels. As a last resort or for initial problems, the least toxic and most specific organic pesticide may be used.
Biological Controls Used?
Beneficial insects, compost, fungi, and bacteria.
Borates Used?
No.
Synthetic Chemicals Used?
No.
Top Ten Pesticides Used/Sold/Recommended
Corn Gluten Meal, vinegar, molasses, BT, Garlic tea, garlic/hot pepper tea, Organocide, Seacide, Neem oil,Milky Spore.
How Much Pesticide Used Per Year, and How Applied?
Only organic pesticides are ever used. Application would be by back pack or power sprayer and granular or powder application. We use the least amount necessary to take care of the problem Amounts are determined on an as needed basis for each specific problem.
Uses Physical or Mechanical Controls?
Netting for berry plants, pruning, physical weed removal, and mulches.
Lawn Care
Type of Fertilizers Used/Sold/Recommended
Specific for each property. We always start by balancing the soil according to the soil test results. For nitrogen we use protein meals. Compost.
Evaluation
How Effectiveness of Pest Management Systems is Evaluated
Scouting and monitoring.
References
Peter and Mary Pernicone, Deleon Springs, FL; Andrea and MIke Cherevenak, Apopka, FL.