Fruitstitute x ARBER: Our new Integrated Pest Management program
The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, you’re sweating in your sleep– it’s officially summer in Los Angeles! But you know what else is in full bloom? Heat-loving garden pests! Aphids, whiteflies, scale– you’re probably very familiar with a few of these guys, if not all.
Garden pests like these love fruit trees because of all the sustenance available to them. Dealing with these types of pests can be a headache since they can negatively affect tree health and prevent fruit from coming to maturity. But fear not, you don’t have to go at it alone this summer, because we at Fruitstitue have your back. Drumroll please… announcing our first official integrated pest management (IPM) program in partnership with ARBER!
ARBER founder, Vanessa Dawson, is on the left!
Before we dive into the partnership, let’s go over what integrated pest management is. An IPM approach is one that allows us to determine how best to stop a bug’s cycle and prevent infestation. It’s a holistic approach to plant health that takes into account the entire ecosystem, and focuses on long-term prevention of pests, while leaving pesticides as an absolute last resort.
At Fruitstitute, we believe that wiping out an entire species risks creating an imbalanced environment, thus leaving the ecosystem susceptible to even more future issues. ARBER shares this belief and is one of the only companies that has created good biological products (think probiotics) to approach pest management in this holistic way. So if you are wanting a holistic, organic IPM treatment program for your trees, you’re in good company, and please keep on reading.
ARBER couldn't be a better partner for our IPM program because not only are they an organic plant care company, they also produce first in class, synthetic-free, scientifically-backed products. Their products, like their biological insecticide, fungicide and protectant, prevent diseases and pests on your fruit trees all while boosting plant growth and soil health. ARBER cares about ingredient integrity, which is why all their proprietary products are made of biologicals (naturally occurring elements), meaning that they're safe for kids, pets, and beneficial insects like pollinators. For these reasons, we love and trust their products!
Now on a word of the effectiveness of their products. Read the reviews and the science on their website– their stuff works. But we wanted to put their products to the test on a larger scale, so we’ve been conducting trials with their products on the trees at our worksite and the data speaks for itself. Just take a look at the before and after photos of our blood orange tree. Their stuff really works.
The photo on the left was taken on May 15 2024 and the photo on the right was taken June 12 2024
The key to success is consistency, because organic and holistic solutions are not a panacea and do not wipe out an issue in one fell swoop. We’ve found that an application every week on a 4 week cycle is the most effective way to both slow these critters from multiplying and boost our trees’ ability to defend itself from invasive pests.
NEXT STEPS
Okay, so clearly we love ARBER and their products, but what does this program look like for you? First you need to identify if you’re a candidate for our IPM program. You're a great candidate if you’re currently seeing some bug activity in your trees, or if you remember last year the bugs chose your trees for their special spot of sustenance.
If you’ve identified yourself as a candidate, then you can choose between 2 ways of implementing our ARBER IPM program.
The first way. Hire us to come out to treat your trees every week for a total of 4 weeks to slow down the pests and boost your tree’s health. Larger infestations may need extended care and our field workers are qualified to diagnose your tree’s needs regarding treatment for pests.
The second way. Purchase ARBER’s products and apply them to your trees yourself! You can purchase your own set of ARBER products directly from their website and use our discount code “FRUITSTITUTE” at checkout which gives you 5% off all purchases and 15% off sale items.
For hard bodied insects, use the bio insecticide. For fungal and bacterial issues use the bio fungicide. Both work better if you mix 50/50 with their bio protectant at each spray. If your tree is large you probably want to purchase a hose end sprayer to make the treatments easier on yourself.
Interested in our IPM services? Email us now and let us know what bugs you’re dealing with. Photos of the infestation really help!
