09-29-05 | News

Microinjection for Tree Health Problems

By Terry A. Tattar, Ph.D.

 

Treatment capsules are tapped into shallow, one-quarter-inch-deep holes. The number of capsules is determined by the tree diameter, divided by two. For example, a 12-inch diameter tree gets six capsules per treatment.

Microinjection has enabled many landscape professionals to add tree health care services to the landscape management services they already provide. A wide range of tree health care products are currently available in microinjection capsules, including insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics and mineral nutrients. With tree microinjection, there is no need to invest in expensive spray equipment. A battery-powered drill, a hammer and a willingness to learn the microinjection technique are all the investment needed to add tree microinjection services to your business.

What types of tree health problems can be treated with microinjection?

Many chewing and sucking insects, diseases caused by fungi and bacteria and mineral nutrient deficiencies have been controlled by microinjection for over 30 years.

Most tree health problems that have been treated by spray applications or soil injections can also be controlled by microinjection. A complete list of microinjection products registered for treatment of tree health problems is available from companies that produce and sell these products.

How to get started in microinjection

The best way to learn about microinjection is to attend a training program. These programs are held regionally around the county, usually during the late fall, winter and early spring. The J. J. Mauget Company, for example, offers a one-day training program before sale of any of their products. In addition, home study programs are available to provide assistance in learning how to perform microinjection. Companies that sell microinjection products usually have information booths at green industry trade shows and are willing to provide some type of training prior to use of their products.

The landscape professional who maintains trees on clients properties must be concerned with both the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of any treatments that are used.

Microinjection provides the following benefits when compared with spray applications and soil injections:

1. Rapid application – A landscape professional, while performing routine maintenance duties on a job site, could microinject a single tree in less than 5 minutes, and, thereby, increase their profits.
2. Low start-up cost – Microinjection only requires a minimal initial investment.
The tools needed for microinjection, a battery-powered drill and a hammer, are inexpensive and are already owned by most landscape professionals.
3. Many product choices – A wide range of tree care products are currently available. Several products are often available to treat a tree health problem. Combination products are also available, which can treat both an insect pest and a fungus pathogen with the same injection capsule, such as Mauget?EUR??,,????'???s Imisol and Abasol.
4. Flexibility of use – Microinjection capsules can be used on a case by case basis, to inject one tree or a hundred trees, with either the same or a variety of different materials. There is no need to empty and clean a large container.
5. Easy and compact storage – Microinjection capsules have a long shelf life. Any unused capsules are stored at room temperature in their shipping containers for future use.
6. Client and applicator safety – Microinjection is environmentally safe. Microinjection capsules contain systemic chemicals in a sealed container that are used only once. There is no tank of unused chemicals to empty or to clean.
7. Easy disposal – Empty capsules are placed into plastic bags after removal from the tree and taken to a landfill with household garbage.
8. Low treatment cost – The cost of microinjection treatments per tree can be competitively priced with spraying and soil injection.

Terry A. Tattar, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.