Higher profits are one obvious reason why many service companies and nurseries have added microinjection to their nutrient lineup. Recent technological advances have helped microinjection gain a competitive edge in plant nourishment. Used with an existing fertilization program on trees over two inches in caliper, microinjection offers flexibility, uniqueness and higher earnings for a surprisingly small investment. With microinjection, nutrients are placed directly into the sap stream of the tree, bypassing the energy expensive root absorption process, allowing the trees own transport system to move nutrients directly to where they can be best used. Once in the trees vascular system, the EDTA chelated micronutrients keep on delivering their payload for up to five years. In addition to microelements, microinjected nutrients also contain a balanced rate of N, P, and K. Microinjection has been around for many centuries. Twelfth century Arabian manuscripts record that aristocratic gardeners of the period experimented with stem injections to alter the color and fragrance of ornamental tree blossoms. This was accomplished by depositing pulverized chemicals between the bark and the xylem. Legend has it that in the fifteenth century, Leonardo da Vinci experimented with boring holes and injecting lead arsenic into his apple trees to prevent thieves from stealing his fruit. Today, research across the globe continues to reveal surprising and often dramatic results when tree professionals employ microinjection to solve difficult nutritional problems. How It Works In microinjection systems, tiny holes are drilled near the base of the tree at the flare just above the soil line. A feeder tube is then inserted in the hole and a pressurized capsule (filled with treatment fertilizer) is placed directly onto the tube. After the tree takes up the fluid (usually in about 15 minutes) the capsule and tube are removed. Unlike larger or high pressure wounds, the hole of microinjection wounds callus over and heal completely in about one season. Microinjected fertilizer also prevents other problems. Ground water is of vital concern to most communities. Of the four to six pounds of nitrogen fertilizer that is applied per 1,000 square feet, only one-tenth of an ounce of nitrate is used by the tree; the rest of that material is leached into the water table or micro-organisms denitrify it. That is a tremendous waste of fertilizer. With microinjection, there is no wasted material and our communities are safe from ground water pollution. In addition to nutrients, systemic pesticides can also be injected into trees. With microinjection, there is no collateral environmental damage from over-spray: no dead fish in ponds; no dead baby birds in nests; no damage to sensitive plants under or near sprayed trees; and beneficial insects on or near the site are saved to help you control pests and disease. Microinjection programs are specific enough to kill only pests that are actively feeding on or in the plant. Microinjection is the environmentally responsible way to augment your IPM program. A wide range of nutrient formulations, insecticides, fungicides antibiotics and combinations of these are EPA registered and ready to go to work for you, solving the most difficult plant problems. Although they work about as quickly for about the same cost as sprays, the same chemicals applied as microinjections last much longer. For example, Imicide (containing the same insecticide as Merit) works for up to two years after a single application. Comparatively, the longest spray residual is only about four to eight weeks; soil treatments may take up to three months before the desired effect takes place. Microinjection programs are making inroads into the tree business, and this technique has quite a positive outlook well into the future. Editor?EUR??,,????'???s note: Marty Shaw is a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborist (ASCA). He is an ISA certified arborist; a Tennessee certified nursery professional; a pesticide demonstration and research license holder; and is president of TIPCO, Inc., in Knoxville, Tenn. He can be reached at treeguru@treedoc.com, or you can visit his website: www.treedoc.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Microinjection and Insect Control Questions answered by the Digital Arborist (www.digitalarborist.com) Keith Brown, a certified arborist, explains on diitalarborist.com that while the number of insects that make their home in trees is uncountable, there are good ones (Ladybugs) and bad (those that feed off and/or lay eggs in trees (webworms, for example). And while the bad insects are not all fatal to trees, they can disfigure them. Tree insects are classified as chewing, sucking and boring. The borers are the bad ones, feeding off the vascular tissue of the tree until the tree is dead (the tree will not have enough water and sugar conducting tissue left to support itself, Mr. Brown explains). Diagnosing insect problems are tricky, Mr. Brown notes. ?EUR??,,????'??Often times insects are only a result of bigger underlying problems; and often times insects will cause other problems that must be attended to.?EUR??,,????'?? If your trees have an insect problem and you are not familiar with insect symptoms, you may want to consider having an arborist check it out. Spraying used to be method of choice, but as Mr. Brown points out, due to drift, evaporation and other related problems, only about seven percent of the chemicals are available to attack the insect. The spray also kills beneficial insects, and only has a four-week residual effect. Microinjections are just between the tree and the pesticide, no harmful chemicals in the environment; only insects feeding on the tree are affected. A small hole is drilled in the trunk about six inches from the ground, and a tube inserted. Another method is injecting high concentration, low volume insecticide directly into the soil. The roots absorb the insecticide and distribute it throughout the tree. Photo caps: see Microinjection photos in images These photos are courtesy of Digitalarborist.com, a website created by Jerry Naiser (pictured in the photos) to provide arboriculture information. The site has over 500 pages and several thousand images. Jerry answers hundreds of questions weekly from all over the world. Mr. Naiser has been an arborist for 14 years, and only recently sold his tree service in Austin, Texas. ?EUR??,,????'??I actively promote proper tree care, and am especially a fan of microinjection,?EUR??,,????'?? Mr. Naiser told LCN. ?EUR??,,????'??The environmental benefits are very clear, as well to the superior effectiveness of this type of application.?EUR??,,????'?? 1. The necessary tools. 2. Drill very small holes in the root flares. 3. Seat the microinjection capsules with a mallet. 4. Pressurize the capsules. 5. Properly installed microinjector capsules.