Working with nature to keep our trees healthy
Integrated Pest Management - IPM - is a sustainable approach to controlling pests that prioritises biological and ecological methods over chemical ones. Rather than reaching for pesticides at the first sign of a problem, IPM focuses on understanding the ecosystem, preventing issues before they arise, and intervening only when necessary.
At Rymer Trees, IPM sits alongside being peat-free and cell-grown as a core part of how we operate. We have near enough not used any chemicals since we started - and our natural predator populations reflect that.
From the outset, we let wildflowers - some might call them weeds - grow freely wherever they wouldn't impact our crop. This encouraged natural predators to establish on site long before we introduced any biological controls. You'll often spot seemingly random pots of yarrow and clover dotted amongst the trees - they're there deliberately, to draw beneficial insects into the polytunnels.
We were assessed by Fargro, one of the UK's leading biological control specialists, to see where we could improve. They were seriously impressed with what we'd already achieved. Together we developed a plan that includes:
When we experienced a Powdery Mildew outbreak, we used a biofungicide rather than a conventional chemical treatment to keep it under control.
The least effective part of our IPM is Maple, our yellow Labrador. She is theoretically responsible for managing the small mammal population, but appears only capable of catching things that are already dead.
IPM isn't just about being environmentally responsible - though it is that. It also produces healthier trees. By maintaining a balanced ecosystem on site, we reduce the stress that pests and diseases place on our stock. Trees that arrive at your site haven't been saturated in chemicals, and the beneficial microbial communities in our peat-free compost remain intact.
For buyers who care about the environmental credentials of their supply chain - particularly on BNG schemes, SFI agreements or grant-aided woodland projects - IPM is another marker of a nursery that takes its responsibilities seriously.