PESTICIDES & INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT A healthy lawn can out-compete most weeds, survive most insect attacks and fend off most diseases before these problems get the upper hand. The benefit of pesticides (the generic term for herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) is their ability to stop a "pest" problem, be it of the weed, insect or disease variety, before it gets out of control and threatens the health of a lawn. PESTICIDES Pesticides do, however, pose some risks which can not be completely eliminated. They should not be thought of as "quick-fix" solutions since serious "pest" problems are symptoms of an underlying problem which may indicate that the lawn isn't getting everything it needs. Stano Landscaping tries to address the underlying problem along with the "pest" control so that the problem does not return worse than before. Here are some things you might want to know: pesticides are not harmless, but when applied properly the risks can be minimized. our applicators are trained and State licensed in the use of pesticides. pesticides are used to control pests, since it is usually impossible to eradicate them. if only one area of a lawn is affected we try to spot treat the area rather that blanket the entire lawn to cure a localized problem. if you notice a "pest" problem, contact us right away. If problems are caught early, there may be more treatment options to choose from and the results are usually better. While the risks involved with pesticides cannot be completely eliminated, if they are properly used the risk can be minimized. The level of risk posed by a chemical depends on its toxicity and the level of exposure, therefore, to limit your exposure stay off the treated area until it has thoroughly dried. A general rule of thumb would be stay off the area for 24 hours following the application of the pesticide. Most of the pesticides used by Stano Landscaping are "general use" products, but occasionally a "restricted use" product will be used to solve pest problems that were unresponsive to regular treatment. As with all the pesticides used by our company, product information is available to you upon request. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Another way to help limit exposure to pesticides by limiting the need to use them is to have an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for your lawn. This type of program is designed to create a healthy lawn with sufficient plant strength and density to survive weed, insect and disease attacks with minimum pesticide usage. An IPM program requires the support of proper cultural practices: proper mowing, regular watering, core aeration, fertilization, programmed seeding/sodding, pH balancing treatments and regular inspection for early pest detection. All of these are services which Stano Landscaping has available or which can be done partly by the homeowner/client with support from our professional staff. Either way, the goal is to combine proper cultural techniques with discreet chemical usage for proper pest control. Through the proper use of pesticides, Stano Landscaping tries to provide the most risk free chemical treatment possible. Through Integrated Pest Management programs we strive to help our clients attain the healthiest lawns possible to try and limit the need for chemical applications. Should you have any questions about your lawn care service, the products we use or about setting up and IPM program, please call. Thank you. Please feel free to contact Stano Landscaping, Inc. at 414-358-1800 with any of your landscape questions or concerns.