A plant health care record is what a tree care company's PHC technician writes after a visit: which trees and shrubs were treated, for what, how, with which products and how much. It answers the customer who asks what went on their trees, the state inspector who asks to see pesticide records, and the technician who comes back next season and needs to know what was done last time. This form is organized around the plants — one entry per tree or shrub — with the products listed once below, so a visit that injects three ashes and fertilizes a bed of rhododendrons reads clearly. Fill it in here and download a PDF without an account, or speak while you walk, and the document writes itself.
Plants first, then products
Each tree or shrub gets its own entry: a tag or location, the species, the trunk diameter in inches for trees (injection products are often measured against it), the pest or disorder being treated, what you saw, its condition and how it was treated. That is the history the next technician and the customer care about.
Products are listed once, in their own section, because one product often goes on several plants. Each entry says what kind of product it is, the name on the label, the EPA registration number where it has one, the active ingredient and the amount actually used.
Fertilizers have no EPA number
Insecticides, fungicides, miticides and plant growth regulators are registered pesticides, and the EPA Reg. No. on the label identifies them. Fertilizers, most soil amendments and many biostimulants are not pesticides and carry no EPA number; leave that box blank and record the product name and its analysis instead.
The amount you record is the amount you used, read from your measure. Rates and dilutions come from the label, which is the law; this form never suggests one.
Weather only when something was sprayed
Soil and trunk injections stay where they are put, so a visit made up only of those does not need a weather entry. Foliar, bark and basal sprays can drift, so when anything was sprayed the form asks for wind speed and direction, temperature and sky, and whether flowering plants with pollinators were nearby — a restriction on many labels.
Customer notice and follow-up
Many states require a notice to the customer after a pesticide application, and some require yard signs or pre-notification of neighbors who ask for it. The form records what was given and what the customer was told about re-entry, pets, watering and when results should show.
PHC is rarely one visit. The last section says what happens next — a second application in the program, a check on results, a soil test, pruning or a referral to a consulting arborist — and when.
Common questions
How is this different from a pesticide application record?
A pesticide application record is built around a single pest job at an address. This record is built around the plants: one entry per tree or shrub with its own problem and treatment, and products that include fertilizers and growth regulators as well as pesticides. Both record products, EPA Reg. No. where there is one, and amounts as used.
Do I need an EPA Reg. No. for fertilizer?
No. Fertilizers and most soil amendments are not registered pesticides and have no EPA number. Record the product name and its analysis instead. Plant growth regulators are registered pesticides and do have one.
Does this form tell me how much product to apply?
No. Rates, dilutions and timing come from the product label. This form records the amount you actually used.
Who has to sign a PHC record?
The applicator, and in most states that means a certified or licensed applicator or someone working under one. Check your state lead agency for its record-keeping rules and how long records must be kept.
Can I use this for a seasonal treatment program?
Yes. Record the program and the visit number at the top, and use the follow-up section to set the next visit. Each visit gets its own record.