This is a beneficial insect (Praying Mantis)

Here at Dee-sign Landscaping, we practice Integrated Pest Management. This means that we approach problems with plant health (including pests and disease) from a variety of angels, with the goal of attaining a sustainable solution while minimizing negative impacts to the surrounding ecosystem.  Sometimes, a chemical application is the best / only effective way to deal with a problem, but often, an alternative solution may be just as effective, and safer for our environment.

Non-chemical approaches to dealing with plant problems include:

Cultural (examples: When dealing with Japanese beetles, remove and dispose of damaged leaves, as they release a pheromone that attracts more beetles.

When dealing with fungal disease, it is very important to complete a thorough fall clean-up--remove and destroy all fallen leaves from the affected plants to prevent fungal spores from overwintering in leaf debris and causing further issues come spring.)

Biological (introducing or encouraging a population of beneficial / predatory insects. Example: the preying mantis feeds on a wide range of pests including beetles and caterpillars. Introducing a group of preying mantis into your garden is a measure to control insect damage to your plants. Preying mantis egg sacks can be purchased (check with us for availability). You can also encourage beneficial insects to visit your garden by including plants that are attractive to them.)

Mechanical / Physical (example: picking Japanese beetles off of plants and tossing them in soapy water. Removing bagworms from affected plants and squashing them. Covering a small fruit tree with a mesh to prevent birds or beetles from eating the berries.)

In addition to the above measures, we carry the Espoma product line, which includes a variety of organic plant foods and concoctions to address various pest & fungal issues. If you are looking for a specific organic product that we don’t carry, just let us know and we will be happy to order it for you.

Espoma products