ORGANIC PEST CONTROL IS HERE!

Why buy organic pest control from old-school companies?

The Hearts organic and IPM (integrated pest management) pest control service is the only one currently in southern California that comes from a company and techicians certified by pioneers in pest control service that puts ecology first.

EcoWise Certified sets the "I.P.M." standard! The goal of integrated Pest Management is to reduce or eliminate pesticide usage, by creating a customer-centric pest control service, largely organic, devoted to smart environmental stewardship and customer safeguards.

Even the best organic products are not enough! Qualified, certified, professionals that communicate well is essential.

Remember, Hearts is the only place you'll find an EcoWiseCertified company in southern California!

Clients enrolled for our Green Thumb pest control service follow integrated pest management guidelines that point out non-chemical methods to reduce pest infestations. An IPM inspector may suggest that a customer modify landscape or alter sanitation methods. Quick and easy solutions may be to move trash cans out of a garage, or to relocate a pest infested flower pot. Other examples include vine placement and irrigation schedules that contribute to pest infestation.

Carefully selected reduced-risk non-organic product labels are admitted to our program only upon customer approval and when pre-certified by EcoWise.

Green Thumb pricing is at a modest premium to our standard treatment programs. We believe you will enjoy the peace of mind this organic program can provide.

We are constantly updating the list of products used within this program.

We have enlisted EcoSmart, which has provided patented botanical pesticides
with the following properties:

Unique Mode-of-Action
Meets stringent requirements for sensitive accounts
Extremely Effective Against a Broad Spectrum of Insects
Biological pest control or "bio-based" pest control
Beneficial Insects

Please view the EcoSmart website to review and evaluate claims regarding unique mode of action.

We would like to share this information with you. Due to regulatory requirements, pest control companies can not make statements regarding the relative safety of one product verses another. We recommend that you review labels for the sites of organic manufacturers, such as EcoSmart.

Provides quick knockdown and control of a wide variety of indoor and outdoor insect pests.

Unlike botanicals in the past, our current portfolio now provides significantly improved residual protection, comparable to conventional pesticides. There is no known pest resistance to these botanical active ingredients.

Tip: Have you ever wondered what is the difference between "pyrethrum," "pyrethrins" and "pyrethroids?"

Pyrethrins and pyrethum both refer to the naturally occurring compounds, which are derived from the extract of a chrysanthemum-like flower. Pyrethrum is a general term for the plant and more specifically the flower.  Pyrethrins is a term that refers to six distinct insecticidal compounds extracted from the pyrethrum flower.

Pyrethroids refer to synthetic, man-made compounds with chemical structures similar to pyrethins. Pyrethroid is a genral term for chemicals developed using a pyrethrin molecular base. Pyrethroids have other characteristics significantly different from pyrethrins and since they are synthetic, pyrethroids are not allowed for use in organic production.

Tip: What is Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

DE is mined in the American West. It was formed from trillions of microscopic one-celled algae called diatoms, which weave tiny shells for themselves out of the silica they extract from water.

As the diatoms die, these shells settle in deposits at the bottom of ancient lakes and lagoons. When the lakes dry up and the seas recede, the deposits are follilized and compressed into a soft, chalky rock called diatomaceous earth.

After it is quarried, milled, finely ground and passed through a screen, it feels and looks like flour and can safely be fed to animals, or used as a dust or spray.

DE particles are characterized by their very irregular shapes, generally spiny structure and pitted surface area. They average only 5-20 microns. They contain 33% silica, plus sodium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, and other trace minerals.

DE can be applied as a dust barrier to crawling pests or dusted on to foliage for the control of soft-bodied insects, such as ants, roaches and silverfish, earwigs, snails, slugs, fruit flies and fleas. This is not an exhaustive list.

Beware, there is a huge difference between food-grade vs. pool-grade DE. Pool-grade DE is only for use in pools!

Hearts is constantly reviewing new organic labeled merchandise, to provide the latest and most innovative solutions for pest problems. As they become available and are tested by our technicians, we make the best products available to you.

We have found varying levels of tolerance among "Green Thumb" clients for pesticide treatments. Some are more sensitive to pesticides outside the home where their children play, whereas others are more sensitive to products used inside the house, where children reside. We have a variety of baits available that are not organic. Only when explicitly requested, we will use these products, which we find very effective and pose no risk to the lungs, since they are not airborne and therefore are not harmful to the respiratory system.

Hearts has introduced a new product line under our organic program that is "25B Exempt" from federal regulation. This product is a fully organic substance that is not considered a pesticide. This is a bio-based pest control wash with unique biological action to suppliment gentle organic oils such as Thyme and Lemongrass. Not only is the product the best state-of-the-art for enlightened customers, but it is very effective as well.

As part of our focus on the newest pest control solutions in the marketplace, we can manage the timing and placement of beneficial insects. The use of beneficial insects is often used in gardens, orchards and fruit trees to biologically manage pests without pesticides.

Lacewings are an excellent general insect predator! They can have a remarkably good impact, relieving the pressure of garden pests, such as aphids, scale and mealybug. Still, it is important to combine the use of insect predators with pest control of ant populations. Ants, particularly argentine ants, will protect honeydew creating insects from lacewings. Ants always win the fight. So the timing and placement of lacewings, in combination with general pest control is very important.

Watch for our EcoWise Certified, Sierra Club Green Checked and Ecosmart labeled pest control trucks with the Hearts, and "President Hamilton," enjoying his work under the sun.

Hearts - Organic pest control and environmental stewardship come together!

Further reading about organics and specially labeled pesticides

Visit California Certified Organic Farmers to answer everything from philosophical to practical questions about organics farming and produce.

Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for information listing Title 40 Protection of the Environment section 152.25 Minimum Risk Pesticides. For more detailed information on several categories of materials that are EXEMPT, visit the National Archives for Title 40 EPA explanations. This webpage examines such products as foods and pheromones, natural cedar and permitted inert ingredients.

Visit Organic Materials Review Institute for information about how materials become certified as organic and for a list of organic certified elements.