Sierra Consulting IPM April 2010 newsletter

(Volume 12 / Edition 20, April 2010)

In an effort to solicit your business and keep you informed on the latest vegetation management technologies, Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC is providing you with this technical newsletter, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ONLINE©. It is with sincere hope that the information provided herein will increase the vegetation manager’s knowledge and awareness on issues such as Environmental Stewardship, Efficacy, Efficiency and Economics of Vegetation Management technologies.

Please post this newsletter in areas where all can read and learn. Promote communication and cooperation for the entire team; education for all is the key for success!

Evaluate Timing

April showers bring May flowers, and all the other unexpected guests in the world of unappreciated plant species more commonly called “weeds”. For the past several months now many clients have been actively managing weeds on roadsides, medians, landscape areas, and a variety of sites depending on the focus. Rains continue as we speak, so what species are present are getting lots of water and with warming temperatures, growth is going to increase. This can been seen on many roadsides as we drive around California. From effective early treatments I see bareground strips, and with later applications I see brownout strips with dead weeds 12 to 3 feet tall. When weeds are treated early, while they are 4 to 8 inches tall, most will melt away. If treatments are done when the weeds are 12 inches and taller, they will just die leaving unsightly dead strips, and in some cases I have noticed where the weeds were so tall, they will have to be mowed. Why not just wait and mow instead of increasing costs with little to no value in results? Timing is key, and so it goes with weed management.

Even in the most perfect looking treatments, now is the time to accurately time your spring and summer management for escape weeds and the multitude of summer annuals that are germinating and emerging now. These weeds are tougher to control than the winter annual spectrum of weeds, so timing is critical for the results you want. Don’t wait too long, and be sure your using the correct IVM tools for the job.

Tree Growth Evaluation

Springtime is the best time to evaluate tree growth, checking for limb weight balance, cracks, cavities and overall tree integrity. As trees leaf out in spring, one can see if they are vigorous, even in growth, and have uniform and healthy color to new growth. As temperatures have been somewhat cooler than normal this spring depending on where you are in CA just know that warmer temperature are coming, and lots of growth, making pruning more difficult and expensive. Trees properly tended to now can significantly reduce summer problems such as summer limb drop or other limb failures. Know your species and their characteristics, do not over water if irrigation systems are on and rains continue, and no worries with native oaks, they do not need fertilizer as they get what they need naturally. Watch areas where you have mulched and avoid mulch depths of more than 2 inches directly under trees. If the mulch is too deep, root diseases can be a problem on wet years such as this especially with certain tree species.

Blackberry and Poison Oak Management

These two plants commonly found growing in foothill regions are taking advantage of all the rains and cool temperatures are vigorously growing this spring. Cutting, mowing, burning, enhances their re-growth in spring and early summer time, and I have seen cane growth on berries of 14 feet by August when cut in March. Huge nutrient and sugar reserves in root systems allow for massive re-growth. Yet cutting or mowing in late summer when soil moisture is short can often lead to more effective control. The same principle applies to foliar treatments. Springtime and warmer soil temperatures cause the plant to send needed growth energy to new shoots, leaves and flowers. When flowering has stopped, nutrients then reverse direction and are sent from the leaves to the root system. This occurs in later July for poison oak, and late August for blackberries. If foliar applications are made too early, all you do is burn off that section of plant, and it will re-grow. If applications are made after flower and fruit production, actives are carried to the roots for more effective management. Sometimes growth is needed to be restricted, so two applications will be necessary, the 1st one to stall growth, the 2nd more timely application for control.

New Opportunities on the Horizon!

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC conducts contract research for many clients, and is happy to mention that new products and management technologies are currently under testing for efficacy and determining proper application rates and timing. Several of these research programs are nearing completion and results are positive. Good to know new things are on the horizon after slow introductions in recent years. There will be more to come in the next issue of Vegetation Management Online.

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC, advisory services with 40 years experience providing independent and non-biased Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Arborist advisory services, thanks all of you for your support and business. The client base for Sierra Consulting & IPM has expanded to include federal, state and county agencies, utilities, irrigation districts and water authorities, military bases, railroads, transportation departments, airports, school districts, commercial contract application companies, agricultural clients, noxious and invasive weed management programs. Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC also provides contract research services and forensic investigation including expert witness in all phases of pest management.

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC provides key services including IPM program design and implementation, on-site pest management evaluations (Vegetation, Rodents, Insects, Plant and Tree Health) throughout all of California, Licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA) written pest control recommendations, and employee training on subjects such as:

Annual Pesticide Safety Training
Invasive Weed Management Strategies
Drift Management and Environmental Stewardship
Application Technology & Calibration
Laws & Regulations
Understanding and Using IPM
Certified Arborist Services

Let Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC help you, give me a call or e-mail me!
Phone (530) 432-7845 and/or donald.bartel@sbcglobal.net

Vegetation Management Online Free Subscriptions and Sponsorship!

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC wants you to encourage your coworkers, friends and relatives to submit for this free on-line newsletter specifically designed to present the most recent technological advances to vegetation managers’ worldwide. Just go to www.sierraconsultingipm.com, and provide your e-mail address to automatically place your name on the mail list for the newsletter Vegetation Management Online. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please let me know what you think of the newsletter and the articles, as I always look forward to your comments. If you wish to be removed from this free subscription list, just let me know!

Sponsorship of this newsletter provides a direct market opportunity to reach the influencers and decision makers of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) business here in California, across the United States and around the globe. If your company wishes to learn more about advertising opportunities and the various levels of sponsorship available with this newsletter, please contact: Don Bartel, Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC.
Office phone: 530-432-7845 or 530-305-2228 or e-mail: donald.bartel@sbcglobal.net
Thanks!