Kaitlyn Lamaster, Horticulture Instructor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Working with Sound Horticulture has been great! Brendan was able to answer any questions I threw his way and talked through the issues we were experiencing and gave great recommendations for our needs. He helped ensure our orders all arrived at the same time and made the purchasing and shipping process incredibly simple. His help was incredibly appreciated, as he really took the time to ensure that our insect release was a success. He took a genuine interest in what we were doing and even followed up to make sure that we didn't encounter any issues.
We ordered Cryptolaemus, Aphidius and the aphid banker system. After ordering, we got live bugs and plants within a couple of weeks, and everything came in good health. Students were able to release the bugs as anticipated for a lab activity and observe their behavior and life cycles. The bugs themselves were in great shape and got to work right aways, controlling a mealybug issue within weeks of the initial release. The aphid banker plants were isolated and managed in tents to help keep our Aphidius population strong for months. We were able to do multiple releases of Aphidius thanks to this ready-to-go system they supplied!
I highly recommend using this company based on their prompt responses, excellent customer service and reasonable prices. March 2025
"From the moment we started talking, it was evident that Brendan had a deep passion for gardening and a wealth of knowledge about predator mites. What struck me most was his patience in educating me, someone with limited knowledge in this area.
Brendan carefully listened to my concerns and identified the specific pests that were plaguing my garden. With great clarity, he explained which predator mites I needed to combat the issue. This expert guidance not only saved my plants but also saved me from the labor-intensive task of regular spraying.
Maintaining a garden had been a time-consuming endeavor, with up to 8 hours of spraying twice a week. The transition to using predator mite sachets was a revelation. It took me a mere 1.5 hours to deploy the sachets once a month, a fraction of the time and effort required for spraying.
Brendan at Sound Horticulture proved to be more than just a supplier. He also took the initiative to keep track of when I needed to order new sachets, ensuring that my garden remained well-protected. He was always just a call away, ready to address any emerging issues. When I noticed white butterflies laying eggs on my buds, Brendan swiftly provided a solution and sent it over to me, which kept the threat at bay." November 2023
Jesalyn Pettigrew, Mossy Gate Flower Farm, Mount Vernon, WA
"I learned all about Sound Horticulture this year through a wonderful small Zoom session Alison was holding with some of my local plant friends. Immediately I knew my son and I had to chat with her personally. I own a small seasonal cut flower farm in Mount Vernon, WA and my eldest son, age 11, is obsessed with insects and has been from a very young age! I call him my entomologist in the making. Alison came out to the farm, quickly identified pest issues and had a number of solutions we could try. We set out with a plan and my son and I have really enjoyed understanding every more about our environment! The insects we receive are healthy, active and making a noticeable impact quickly! We are so excited to continue working with Sound Horticulture as the farm grows and changes. Thank you Alison for being a go-to person with vast knowledge and a person my son can look up to!"
Nathaniel Atterberry, Director of Cultivation, Afterglow
Jennifer Pramuk, Ph.D., Animal Curator at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA, pictured with Anahi, the red-tailed boa constrictor
"We have been using Sound Horticulture's Strat mites for more than a year to control parasitic reptile mites in our Ambassador Animal snakes and lizards. Prior to using the mites, we had several, difficult-to-control outbreaks of reptile mites. Since we have been using them, we haven't had any further outbreaks. This has saved us on labor and other costs associated with using conventional chemical treatment of the reptile mites. Thank you, Sound Horticulture!"
Bill Vingelen, head gardener, The Herbfarm Restaurant, Woodinville WA.
"I want to let you know that the compost tea from your supplies worked great this season!! I ran continuous batches most of the season and had great results. I foliar sprayed but mainly ran the tea into our T-Tape drip line using our EZ-Flow injector soaking each area about five times. I found that I needed less fertilizer and the corn, zucchini blossoms, basil etc...have all been vibrant and bountiful...Thanks!"
Brian Schrader, Life Gardens, Ellensburg WA.
"Switching to a pesticide free IPM is scary for anybody, the team at sound horticulture got us on track right from the start with solid advice, dependable shipping and beneficials that arrived alive and hungry every time. Since working with sound horticulture our IPM spending is down, plant health is up and labor needs for IPM are lower. I would recommend sound horticultures practices to anyone in any agricultural operation seeking an alternative to chemicals."
David Stein, RavenGrass
"Sound Horticulture has supported our growing operation over the last year with top-quality fresh beneficial insects. They have worked closely with our tight production schedule, under a variety of evolving conditions to design a biocontrol program that truly fits our holistic system. Alison's diverse growing experience has given us helpful perspective. Her expertise in compost teas came as a nice bonus to working with her company! Now, our system is dialed!"
