Ornamental Plant Care Services | Scientific Plant Service (SPS)

Ornamental Shrub Fertilization and Care Program

The SPS ornamental program covers shrub fertilization with slow-release granular feed, early-season dormant oil for scale and mites, IPM insect control that treats only where pests are active, and a winter protective coating for broadleaf evergreens like boxwood, holly, azalea and rhododendron to reduce winter burn.

Shrub Bed Fertilization

Healthy ornamentals start with healthy soil. In spring, we apply a complete, slow-release granular fertilizer to your shrub and groundcover beds so plants have the nutrients they need as new growth pushes out.

The result is fuller growth, better color, and ornamentals that are strong enough to handle normal insect and weather stress.

When we see signs that certain plants need a little more help, we can adjust, for example by:

Adding iron for plants that are yellowing or losing their deep green.
Applying lime where soil pH is too low for the plant material on site.
Including a pre-emergent herbicide in shrub beds for clients who want help keeping new weeds from sprouting.

Horticultural Oil

Dormant oil is one of the most useful tools we have for over-wintering insects. Early in the season, we use a horticultural oil spray on plants that are prone to scale, mites, and other pests that spend the winter on branches and needles.
A well-timed oil application:

- Coats stems and small branches thoroughly.
- Smothers over-wintering insects and egg masses.
- Knocks pest populations down before they explode in late spring and summer.

By reducing the number of insects early, we often need fewer traditional foliar sprays later in the year.

Preventive Insecticide Drench

Some insects are much easier to control before they show up on the leaves. For those situations, we use systemic insecticides as a soil drench around the base of key shrubs and ornamental trees.

This “inside-out” protection is especially helpful for specimen plantings and foundation shrubs you really want to keep looking their best.

These drenches

Move up through the plant with the sap.
Provide season-long protection against targeted insect pests.
Reduce the need for repeated foliar spraying on high-value plants.

IPM Inspections and Sprays

No two properties have the same mix of plants or the same pest pressure. That is why the Ornamental Program uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach rather than a one-size-fits-all spray schedule.

When we find an active problem, we treat only where it is needed, using foliar sprays or other tools targeted to the specific insect or disease. Plants that are clean are left alone.

During the growing season, we schedule IPM inspection trips that:

Line up with known insect and disease activity periods for our area.
Focus on the plant species on your property that are most likely to have issues.
Put trained eyes on your landscape to catch early signs of trouble.

Winter Protection for Broadleaf Evergreens

Broadleaf evergreens such as boxwood, holly, azalea, and rhododendron can suffer in winter when cold winds pull moisture out of their leaves faster than roots can replace it. That is when you see the bronzing and browning that many people call “winter burn.”
As part of the Ornamental Program, we apply a clear, synthetic polymer coating to the foliage of these sensitive plants. This treatment:

- Reinforces the plant’s natural protective layer.
- Helps slow moisture loss from the leaves.
- Reduces the amount of winter burn and dieback you see in spring.

It is a simple step that can make a big difference for evergreens that are exposed to wind or winter sun.

A Complete Plan for Your Ornamentals

Put together, the Ornamental Program gives your shrubs and small trees a structured care plan through the entire year:

- Shrub bed fertilization for steady nutrition.
- Horticultural oil to control over-wintering insects.
- Preventive insecticide drenches for season-long internal protectio.
- IPM inspections and sprays so we only treat plants that truly need it.
- Winter protection for broadleaf evergreens in exposed locations.

You get regular monitoring, thoughtful treatments, and fewer surprises when the weather or insect pressure turns against you.

Ready to Give Your Ornamentals Some Backup?

If your shrubs and small trees are losing color, fighting repeated insect problems, or simply not growing the way they used to, it may be time for a dedicated ornamental care plan. Call Scientific Plant Service or request an Ornamental Program evaluation. We will walk your beds with you, point out what we see, and recommend the mix of fertilization, oil, drenches, IPM visits, and winter protection that makes the most sense for your landscape.