CA oak moth (Phryganidia californica) larva on leaf of coast live oak (Quercus agrifollia)

Consulting: Bugs

Why don’t  my plants look healthy – is there some kind of bug or disease killing them or preventing them from thriving?

Will the pests or diseases on these plants spread and infect/infest others?

How can pests, plant diseases and weeds be managed without harming the health of property users, including pets, children, neighbors and maintenance personnel?

What can be done to enhance the plant’s natural defense against pests, or to encourage organisms that will feed on or destroy plant pests?

caterpillar_crossingPlant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management are two approaches pioneered by Michael Baefsky in urban landscapes, resulting in greater health, safer and more beautiful landscapes. Properly matching up plants, light, soil and water avoids pest, disease and weed problems. Monitoring landscapes to detect early cues of problems saves money and plants for property managers & homeowners.  Tweaking maintenance practices halts disease infections and pest infestations that lead to dead and dying landscapes. Ecological design, early intervention and ongoing maintenance monitoring is how we promote safer and healthier landscapes.

Michael Baefsky has helped clients with a wide range of problems in new subdivisions and established residential lots, canal banks, regional, county and city & regional parks, roadsides.  Michael assesses & helps manage a full range of pests that impact plant life including weeds, diseases, insects and rodents.

Michael Baefsky recently co-wrote Design Guidelines for Pests in the Landscape.  His collaboration with the City of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment consolidates decades of research and fieldwork into an organized manual for architects and landscape design professionals.

Pest Prevention by Design- Guidelines for Landscapes is available, at no cost, in two forms:

Online tool: The online version allows access to all of the details, including downloadable attachments, references, and links to various product examples. Use this version to get the most complete and up-to-date information. Try clicking the “Filter” to refine your search of tactics [Latest update: 2/6/2020]
 
Downloadable manual (PDF, 93 pages): We also created a more readable PDF version that can be downloaded and printed. [Latest update: 2/14/2020]
 
Pest Prevention by Design-Guidelines for Structures is a related publication, available as a pdf. 
 

Clients include developers, builders, homeowners associations, homeowners, architects, landscape architects, engineers, Public Works, Engineering, Planning, Parks and Grounds departments in San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, and Contra Costa County.  Cities throughout the Bay Area, as well as local water & sanitation districts have been clients over the years for research, education and consulting on trees, bugs, and dirt.  

Typical work related to bugs/pests includes:consulting1

    • Sudden Oak Death (ramorum blight) diagnosis
  •  
    • Tree & Landscape Health & Safety Evaluations & Recommendations

 

    • Bug (animal, plant disease, weed) Identification & Management Recommendations

 

For your pest, disease & weed consultation needs, please call 925.254.7950 or email treesbugsdirt@gmail.com

Certifications & Licenses:

    • Certified Arborist (WE022A International Society of Arboriculture)

 

    • Registered Consulting Arborist (#456 American Society of Consulting Arborists)

 

    • Qualified Tree and Plant Appraiser (#456 American Society of Consulting Arborists) 

 

    • Qualified Tree Risk Assessor (#WE0222A International Society of Arboriculture)

 

    • Licensed Agricultural Pest Control Advisor (#074617 State of CA)

 

    • CA Qualified Applicator license (#99864 State of CA)

 

    • Licensed Landscape Contractor (#931410 State of CA) – inactive