For a free consultation, contact:
Borab Landscape Inc.
2151 Evergreen Avenue
Sea Girt, NJ 08750
Phone: 732-449-6220
Fax: 732-449-6226

Pruning & Horticulture

We take pride in our horticultural knowledge. It is the foundation upon which all successful designs are built.

In order to maintain and increase your landscape investment, our skilled horticulturists have pioneered and practiced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Plant Health Care (PHC) since 1989. These concepts reduce our reliance on pesticides while improving the quality and aesthetics of the landscape. This has been our goal.

But, what exactly are the techniques used when implementing a Plant Health Care program? They are as follows:

  • Monitoring – this involves watching for insect and disease pests as well as cultural problems through monthly or semi-monthly visits to your property. Knowing when to look and on what ornamentals is the key to success.
  • Inspection – once we suspect a problem, we employ various techniques such as using a hand lens or beating tray to inspect the plant for insects. Common cultural problems that arise are improper irrigation, imbalanced pH or nutrient levels and poorly sited plants. Soil testing is essential.
  • Decision making – if we have identified a potential problem, we must determine if the threshold of infestation warrants treatment and which type.
  • Use of non-toxic chemicals – most applications of the pesticides used have been horticultural oils and soaps (non-residuals) which smother and suffocate the insect. Introduction of predator insects is a natural alternative in certain cases.
  • Good cultural practices – this employs the use of mulches to suppress weeds and insulate the soil, proper pruning, timely fertilization, managing irrigation and soil analysis before and after planting.

Plant Health Care is providing the best environment for plants in the landscape to thrive. Healthy plants obviously can withstand disease and pest pressures better than stressed plants. When we employ these fundamental horticultural practices, the overall landscape is improved when compared to a landscape which has a heavier reliance on the use of chemicals.

Winner of "Outstanding Professional Achievement for Residential Landscape Design"
NJ Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects