When using injection treatment systems to deliver insecticides to palm trees, often times a starter or pilot hole has to be drilled before the injection tips can be inserted through the husk. A newly developed tip solves this problem by being able to penetrate a palm's outer surface.

Direct-inject tree treatment systems provide benefits not only to the infected tree, but also to people and the environment. Chief among these is the prevention of the type of direct exposure to an insecticide that can result from foliage spraying and soil drenching. Also, there is no chemical drift, which can lead to indirect exposure.

Palm trees, with their tough outer layers, present a challenge for arborists who want to use injection treatments. A new tip design claims to meet this challenge by being able to pierce a palm???(R)???AE?s inactive exterior to deliver insecticide into the inner active layers.

The product is called the Pointle Palm, and according to its developer, ArborSystems, it was designed to get into the toughest plants and deliver treatment at a known dose rate with virtually no environmental exposure. The chemical ports are recessed to minimize plant material from clogging the tip. Besides chemicals, the system can also be used to inject nutrients.

The company reports that arborists and tree care professionals are using the system in conjunction with the company's Pointer insecticide to treat rugose spiraling whiteflies and royal palm bugs. The insecticide is also designated for treatment against emerald ash borers, hemlock wooly adelgids, aphids and beetles. It has been credited with saving thousands of ash trees from emerald ash borer since 2002 as documented by Michigan State University.