The goal of the Vine & Branch Plant Health Care (PHC) team is to meet the

clients' needs with an appropriate program based on the contents of their landscape. 

Plant Health Care is a concept which evolved from Integrated Pest Management, an

idea developed back in the 1970's (in the landscape arena).  The Plant Health Care

concept which Vine & Branch deploys is based on observation (monitoring),

preventative application and proper intervention. 

We encourage our clients to have good maintenance programs in place for their landscapes.  A good maintenance program includes things such as good sanitation, proper pruning and the judicious use of fertilizer and pesticides.  We feel that by proper plant identification along with proper diagnosis of insects, disease and nutrient deficiencies of plants, we can make a difference in the health of your landscape plants.

Vine & Branch strives to get to know your property so that we can better care for its needs.  The team is continually upgrading their diagnostic and treatment skills to better serve you.  We also stay in close contact with our plant health care partners at Purdue's Department of Entomology, and with the Indiana State Chemists office.

Our experienced Plant Health Care staff includes:

• W. David Heckler - Licensed for Ornamental Pest Control

• Katie Hertel - Certified Arborist, Indiana Accredited Horticulturalist

• Tim Pell - Operations Manager of Vine & Branch, Indiana Accredited Horticulturist, Certified Arborist  

• Jill Smith - Indiana Accredited Horticulturalist, Licensed for Ornamental Pest Control and turf

• Greg Spaulding - Licensed for Ornamental Pest Control

The following are common problems found by homeowners & gardeners throughout Indiana:

Fireblight (click for more) Bagworms (click for more) Anthracnose (click for more) Bronze Birch Borer (click for more) Iron Chlorosis (click for more) Asian Longhorn Beetle (click for photo) Japanese Beetles (click for .pdf) Emerald Ash Borer  (click for .pdf)

Dogwood Borer Spider Mites (click for .pdf) Scales (click for .pdf) Lace Bug Forest Tent Caterpillars Eastern Tent Caterpillars (click for more) (.pdf download help)