What is Tree Injection?

Tree injection, also recognised as trunk injection as well as stem injection, is a method of injecting pesticides, plant defence activators, or fertilisers directly into a tree's xylem vascular tissue to prevent pest infestation or treat nutrient deficiencies. In order to get the protective or nourishing compounds where they are needed most—in the tree's wood, canopy, and roots—this technique makes heavy use of the tree's vascular system.

Injecting trees with a solution to kill insects, diseases, and nematodes is the standard practise for protecting landscape trees at the moment.

How Does Tree Injection Work?

Injecting chemicals directly into trees allows for targeted application of things like pesticides, fungicides, and fertilisers without having to worry about any of those substances escaping into the environment. As an added bonus, substances can be injected into trees to strengthen their natural defences.

The Chemjet Injector is a spring-loaded machine that features a tapered 20 mm 'nozzle' to facilitate injection into a tree. The chemical is "drawn" into the injector's "chamber" in precise 10, 15, or 20 ml amounts, much like a syringe. To "lock off" the injector, turn the handle clockwise.

When inserting an injector into a tree, a hole of 4.2mm or 11/64′′ (wood dependent) must be drilled to a depth of 50mm, and the injector's tapered nozzle must be used to ensure the injector remains securely in the hole. With a counterclockwise turn of the handle, the machine is activated, and the chemical is injected into the tree.

Trees, like humans, have a complex and efficient circulatory system. The leaves are the tree's primary means of absorbing carbon dioxide and solar energy, which it uses to fuel the photosynthesis process and sustain itself. Soluble in the sap, the food sugars as well as carbohydrates are transported underground via the inner bark. Next, the tree's root system and all of its other living cells receive this nourishment. Spraying chemicals on plant tissue is ineffective, especially against root pathogens.

By utilising the tree's vascular system, chemicals can be dispersed quickly and efficiently to where they will do the most good, reducing waste while maximising productivity.

Observe the chemical's progress as it is injected through the trunk. The chemical is able to penetrate the bark and travel down to the root hairs. Injecting trees is a low-cost alternative to conventional methods. If a chemical is applied "directly" to a tree, there is less chance of it being wasted.

Additionally, and most notably, injecting a tree is the most eco-friendly treatment option available. A small amount of the chemical normally used is directly injected into the tree, eliminating the need to worry about off-site chemical runoff.

Do Nails, Screws, And Staples Harm Trees?

Nails and screws are commonly used by homeowners for a variety of tree-related projects, including the installation of lighting and the construction of playsets and treehouses. Most people, however, would never stop to consider whether or not nails, screws, or staples could harm a tree. Screws, nails, and staples can damage your tree and lead to major health problems in the long run; there's no getting around that. Keep reading to learn about the problems that might arise from utilising nails, screws, and staples, as well as some solutions for mitigating these hazards to trees.

Tree Damage Caused By Nails, Screws, And Staples:

Screws, nails, and staples can kill your tree in a number of ways, including by making it more susceptible to disease and by physically damaging its tissues.

Susceptibility to Disease and Decay

For defence against pests and rotting, trees have an outer bark. By making an opening in the protective layer, you increase the risk of infection from bacteria, fungi, and insects.

Damages the Cambium

The cambium of your tree will be pierced if you nail, screw, or staple anything to it. In plants, a thin layer of developing tissue called the cambium generates cells that can differentiate into xylem, phloem, or even additional cambium. The tree's ability to transport water and nutrients from its roots to its canopy would be compromised if this portion were damaged.

The Advantages Of Rapid Tree Trunk Injections

Have you ever experienced a bacterial illness so severe that your doctor opted to treat it with injectable antibiotics instead of oral pills? Think about it: such injections are often given in the trunk, or bottom, depending on your perspective.

The same is true for arborists, who frequently employ trunk injections to immediately halt the progression of devastating illnesses or pest infestations.

Trunk Injections Can Help Trees Live Longer

Injections can be utilized to correct nutrient deficits in trees in addition to treating or preventing diseases and pests. When nutrients are injected into a tree's trunk, they enter the tree's circulatory system rather than the slower-acting digestive system, allowing the tree's body and foliage to immediately benefit.

The plan is to provide the tree with the nutrients it needs now, and then utilise fertilisation and good soil management to keep from having to inject nutrients into the soil again.

Be Advised That There Is No Trunk Injection Fits All

To the same extent as there aren't universally effective fertilisers, there also aren't universally effective injections. While posing as arborists, some "tree specialists" would try to convince you that a single dose will take care of all of your problems. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the case. An expert arborist will be able to pinpoint the source of the problem or irregularity and fix it accordingly.

Some injectable medicines are used once a year, while others have a staggered application schedule of once every two to three years. This is why tree services must have accurate tree inventory for all their customers. You can still make your own tree inventories even if you don't employ any of the Plant Care Programs. So that the trees and shrubs are never behind, we prefer to know what was administered and when, much like your doctor keeps comprehensive medical records tracking your unique medical history and treatments.

Tree Trunk Injections Have An Advantage Over Topical Applications

Here are just a handful of the many benefits that can be expected when injecting tree trunks as compared to using topical or soil-applied treatments.

A tree injection is the quickest route to recovery.

It may take a tree a very long time to show outward symptoms of illness, pest infestation, or nutritional deficiency. That means treatments given to the soil or the bark of a tree may require almost as long to be digested and "digested" by the tree's system. In the worst-case scenario, non-injectable treatments have already failed, leading to the needless destruction of otherwise lovely trees.

The tree receives the treatment or vitamins in a micronutrient form when we inject them directly into the root flare of the trunk. Here is where recovery time is minimised and maximum potential for health is realised.

Injections into trees are not affected by the elements.

Subsequent applications of a topical treatment or solution will lose their efficacy if it rains, snows, or otherwise stays damp. That is still true even just a few weeks or days after a product has been applied. We can confidently treat your tree in the pouring rain and howling winds since injectable tree remedies are impervious to the elements.

Very little remnant is left following injections, so you don't have to worry about dilution, runoff, or product erosion. Not only will you and your tree benefit from the therapy, but the treatment itself will be worthwhile.

Injecting trees with beneficial substances is good for nature.

The greatest treatments for diseases and pests aren't exactly fantastic for the environment, but we do our best to be as eco-friendly as possible. So, while we would like to get rid of the pests that are affecting your trees, we are not interested in doing anything to the general insect population. By injecting targeted solutions, you can ensure that they reach their targets without leaving any lingering harmful residues that could harm people, animals, or the soil.

When Should You Inject A Tree Systemically?

When trees and other plants are dormant, it's a good time to give them systemic injections. Systemic tree injections are best performed in the winter so that you can begin protecting the trees before they resume normal activity in the spring. It's especially important to water and feed your trees in the spring, when the world suddenly seems to come to life again after a long winter's nap. Injecting a tree's system with a preservative in the winter or fall will keep your trees safe well into the spring.

When a tree dies or is severely harmed by a pest or disease, it can be a huge hassle to get it fixed or taken down. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your trees are sick until the damage has already been done. Take the time to actually protect your trees from harm rather than just hoping for the best. Protect your trees from common dangers with systemic tree injections.

Are Tree Injections Necessary?

You may be wondering if injecting your tree is the right choice. Many homeowners could benefit from this cutting-edge technique for encouraging tree growth, but they probably don't know about it. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about tree injection, to help you choose if it is the best course of action for your particular trees.

Many drugs and therapies for people are administered most rapidly when injected directly into the bloodstream. Any medication taken orally or applied topically must first travel via the digestive tract, the liver, and the skin before it can be distributed throughout the body. The dosage of a drug administered this way is also restricted. The effects of an injection can be seen quickly, and greater doses can be administered.

In the same way, tree injections can be used to rapidly or comprehensively cure a wide range of issues by delivering medicine directly to the tree's vascular system. It addresses numerous fungal and bacterial infections, as well as pest infestations.

As a preventative precaution, a tree could potentially have beneficial nutrients injected into it on a regular basis by an arborist. If a tree isn't getting all of its nutritional demands met by the soil in which it is grown, this might help. If time is of the essence, injection may be used to hasten the recovery of a sick tree.

Although there are several ways to cure a tree, injection offers some advantages that other methods don't. When chemicals or nutrients are inserted into the trunk of a tree, they have no effect on the surrounding landscape. It is usually the safer option when working with substances that could be dangerous to people, animals, vegetation, or children. This technique has the potential to save money thanks to a more conservative approach to using chemicals and nutrients.

As an added benefit, injection lets an arborist tailor the mixtures and materials used to treat individual trees. Whether it's a preventative injection of fertiliser or an expensive treatment against Dutch Elm infection, this individualised approach ensures that each tree receives the most benefit.

Unless Absolutely Necessary, Avoid Trunk Injections.

Injecting tree trunks is one approach to fixing problematic trees. Inappropriate application of trunk injection can cause needless tree damage and reduce the tree's lifespan.

As long as you know what you're doing, you can utilise trunk injections to effectively cure iron chlorosis and keep some pests at bay. Because of this, they have the potential to reduce pesticide use and the likelihood of beneficial insects and other nontargets coming into touch with the chemical.

However, there are certain downsides to injecting the trunk. Therefore, injecting trees should be avoided until absolutely necessary. Injecting a tree is not the same as injecting a human being.

By making holes in the trunk, most injections can be administered. A healthy tree can either recover over these wounds or keep them separated, but the tissue is still dead. Since the same holes cannot be bored and injected into again, the cumulative effect of repeated drilling is to hurt the tree severely.

When an injection is given, it creates a hole in the trunk that can be exploited by insects and rot spores. Internal barriers the tree has built up to prevent rot in the trunk may potentially be compromised by the drilling. Once decay has started inside the tree, it can go outward through the injection sites or grow within the tree itself.

Even if the bug is contained, the tree may still die from the repeated injections of the pesticide, which can inflict internal damage over time.

When it is necessary to inject the trunk of a tree, the tree should not be retracted until the injection holes have healed. Keep in mind that the wood is still affected by the sealed wound. Trees don't have the same ability to recover from wounds as humans do. Because of this, wood often contains knots.

Iron chlorosis is one medical condition that can be helped with a trunk injection. The leaves of a tree in need of care will be a pale green and yellow. Pin oak or silver maple are commonly injected in the trunk to cure chlorosis, however this is unnecessary until the leaves are yellow.

Borer treatment is another reason to inject the trunk of a tree, albeit this should only be done if the tree actually has a borer problem. Until the emerald ash borer is discovered within 15 miles of a tree, injection is not recommended.

However, despite the risks to trees, trunk injection could be the most effective treatment in certain circumstances. However, unless you have a good cause, you should not consent to having a tree inserted.

If the tree's trunk is to be injected, be sure you know why and what ailment is being treated. Inquire whether there are any alternate approaches that would be less harmful or invasive. Inquire about the substance being injected and any possible side effects.

Conclusion

Some injectable medications need to be administered annually, while others can be spaced out over a two- or three-year period. Even if you don't use any of the Plant Care Programs, you can still make your own tree inventories. A skilled arborist can identify the problem's origin and implement a solution. If you inject something into a tree, it won't be washed away or eroded by rain or snow. To begin protecting the trees before they resume normal activity in the spring, systemic tree injections are best performed in the winter.

This innovative approach to promoting tree growth could be useful for a wide variety of property owners. Injecting trees can be used to quickly or completely remedy many problems. It treats numerous bacterial, fungal, and insect infections. In theory, this method could reduce costs by making less intensive use of costly chemicals. When tree trunks are the issue, one solution is to inject them.

When used incorrectly, trunk injections can cause unnecessary damage to trees and shorten their lifespan. It is possible that trunk injections could lessen the exposure of beneficial insects and other nontargets to pesticides. The tree should not be retracted until the injection holes have healed after the trunk has been injected. For instance, an injection into the trunk can be used to treat iron chlorosis. Injecting the trunk is not recommended until the emerald ash borer is found within 15 miles.

Content Summary

• Tree injection, also recognised as trunk injection as well as stem injection, is a method of injecting pesticides, plant defence activators, or fertilisers directly into a tree's xylem vascular tissue to prevent pest infestation or treat nutrient deficiencies.
• Additionally, and most notably, injecting a tree is the most eco-friendly treatment option available.
• Most people, however, would never stop to consider whether or not nails, screws, or staples could harm a tree.
• Screws, nails, and staples can damage your tree and lead to major health problems in the long run; there's no getting around that.
• Keep reading to learn about the problems that might arise from utilising nails, screws, and staples, as well as some solutions for mitigating these hazards to trees.
• Screws, nails, and staples can kill your tree in a number of ways, including by making it more susceptible to disease and by physically damaging its tissues.
• While posing as arborists, some "tree specialists" would try to convince you that a single dose will take care of all of your problems.
• So that the trees and shrubs are never behind, we prefer to know what was administered and when, much like your doctor keeps comprehensive medical records tracking your unique medical history and treatments.
• Here are just a handful of the many benefits that can be expected when injecting tree trunks as compared to using topical or soil-applied treatments.
• A tree injection is the quickest route to recovery.
• The tree receives the treatment or vitamins in a micronutrient form when we inject them directly into the root flare of the trunk.
• Injections into trees are not affected by the elements.
• Injecting trees with beneficial substances is good for nature.
• Injecting a tree's system with a preservative in the winter or fall will keep your trees safe well into the spring.
• Take the time to actually protect your trees from harm rather than just hoping for the best.
• Protect your trees from common dangers with systemic tree injections.
• Unless absolutely necessary, avoid trunk injections.
• Injecting tree trunks is one approach to fixing problematic trees.
• By making holes in the trunk, most injections can be administered.
• When it is necessary to inject the trunk of a tree, the tree should not be retracted until the injection holes have healed.
• Iron chlorosis is one medical condition that can be helped with a trunk injection.
• If the tree's trunk is to be injected, be sure you know why and what ailment is being treated.