Applications should be made when the tree is actively transpiring. Avoid
treating trees during very hot or very cold weather, or when new leaves are
emerging. Treatments applied during leaf expansion are generally seriously
compromised due to the accumulation of the applied chemical in the leaves rather
than in the tree trunk, where it is needed. Currently in northern California two
applications per year is recommended, one treatment in November or December and
a second treatment approximately six months later. Preventative treatment,
before infection has occurred, has been found to be more effective than curative
treatments. At least 4 weeks are necessary for the applied chemical to take full
effect.
If using 20% phosphite - Dilute 1 part Phosphite with 4 parts water. If
using 30% phosphite -
Dilute 1 part Phosphite with 2 parts water If using 40%
phosphite - Dilute 1 part Phosphite
with 7 parts water If using 60% phosphite -
Dilute 1 part Phosphite with 12 parts water
E.g. 30% solution … 11 oz Phosphite + 21 oz Water makes one quar. Use a good
quality water source,
preferably spring or rain water.
The applicator should use their judgment to determine the best method for
determining dose. For example,
multiple trunks or an asymmetrical crown may make
it difficult to calculate the number of injections.
A rule of thumb, using the
20 mil per injector of a 20% solution place the injectors approx. 4 or 6 inches
apart around the trunk at waist high.
Wear gloves and safety glasses during preparation and application. Use Lysol®
Kitchen Spray solution
to disinfect your drill and syringes to prevent spread
of the pathogen. Lysol® is a triple action microbial
disinfectant. A viricide,
algaecide, and bactericide, also it is non corrosive to your tools.
Drill 4.2mm (11/64“) diameter hole into live sapwood or xylem between the
bark furrows, to a depth of 1¼”
to 2". The hole should be drilled perpendicular to the tree trunk or at a very
slight downward angle
and between the bark furrows. Insert injector firmly in the drill portal and
unlock the red handle to inject
the treatment solution. Be sure to insert the Chemjet® injectors in each hole
within seconds of drilling.
Run the bit in and out of the completed hole to clear out wood chips that may
interfere with the injection.
Once the syringe is seated about 1/2 inch into the xylem or sap wood, unlock the
red handle which will
apply a constant spring pressure of 23 psi to get the desired flow. If weeping
occurs, with the open palm
of your hand, apply a gentle, but firm nudge, to seat the syringe a little
deeper in the sap wood.
Place injections about 4 - 6 inches apart where there is a clear translocation
path up the tree. On actively
transpiring trees the treatment solution will be absorbed in 5 to 45 minutes. If
the injection fails to be
absorbed by the tree try cleaning out the hole with the drill bit or move to
another site and drill a new hole.
Remove injectors after the treatment solution has been dispensed. Injection
holes best left open as the
small drill holes will heal in a few short weeks when nature takes it's course.
Checklist for CHEMJET® injection
treatments:
Vital
® Systemic
Fungicide Potassium Phosphite Water Lysol® Kitchen
Spray ….disinfectant ..... It is non
Corrosive
Liquid measuring devices, Plastic mixing containers, 2 1/2 gal bucket for
carrying syringes, washing,
and disinfecting Rechargeable cordless drill 11/64
inch drill bit. Syringe-type tree injectors Chemjet®.Examination
Rubber gloves, and Safety glasses
Basal Spray Treatments
1.
Calculate the amount of treatment solution needed:
The spray mix is
applied from as high as possible down to ground level. Full sized, adult oak
trees may require between 500ml and a liter of spray mix per tree.
2. Prepare the product as per the label and pour
mixture into spray tank:
1.9 L Vital® + 1.9L water + 95ml Pentra-Bark surfactant
equals 62.4oz Vital® + 62.4oz water + 3.2oz Pentra-Bark™ surfactant.
Wear gloves and safety glasses during preparation and application. A plastic
face shield and long sleeves may be worn during application as the mixture is
slightly irritating to the skin. A variety of spray applicators may be used
including hydraulic sprayers, hand pumped sprayers, and backpack sprayers. The
spray mixture will foam if shaken or agitated. Use of a spray tank dedicated to
Vital® with Pentra-Bark™ application will allow you to mix the solution directly
in the tank and avoid some of the foaming.
3. Apply the
treatment solution to the tree trunk:
Treatment is generally effective if it is
applied uniformly from 3-4m (9-12feet) height (or as high as you can without
spraying the foliage) down to the ground level. Soak the tree trunk thoroughly
until the spray treatment solution just starts to run off at the base of the
tree. Pay special attention to fissures and cracks, etc in the bark. Multiple or
spit trunks should be thoroughly treated, just as the main trunk. Rain or
moisture does not appear to affect the application of Vital® with Pentra-Bark™
surfactant, but applications should be made when the tree is actively
transpiring (see Injection Treatments). Use caution and watch your overspray!
Application of Vital® with Pentra-Bark™ (See Caution) to
foliage will cause significant damage to the leaves of most plants, including
oaks, tanoaks, rhododendrons, moss, lichen, etc.
Caution: Potassium
Phosphite is relatively benign, but the Pentra-Bark compound it is typically
mixed with, can irritate the lungs and the skin as well as cause nausea and head
aches. Avoid "over spray" and heed the manufacturers instructions on wearing
protective equipment.
Checklist
for basal spray application:
VITAL®
systemic fungicide Pentra-Bark surfactant Water
Liquid measuring
devices Plastic mixing containers, Spray equipment, hydraulic, pump-up type, or
backpack mounted. Examination Rubber gloves. Safety glasses or face shield
A personal note
I believe, I have fairly described two methods of
application for the treatment for SOD. My personal choice is the Chemjet®
Syringe. As an Arborist, with over thirty years experience, First and foremost,
is the importance of protecting the environment, as like many of my colleagues
in the business of treating trees.
Microinjection, a technique for injecting fertilizers, pesticides and other
chemicals directly into trees, is often the safest, most effective and quickest
way to deal with pest infestation and disease. Many tree-care specialists
believe microinjection could be the only way to save trees from nutrient
deficiency, the fungal infection and destruictive insects. It has become a
popular means of treating trees because, it achieves a level of control that is
not possible with sprays, and basil applications especially on larger trees. In
recent years, we all have worked directly with the chemical providers to produce
better and saver chemicals. At the same time policing ourselves to apply better
application methods of caring for the very trees, we are trying to save and the
most important goal is protect the environment.
Microinjection is a safe and environmentally friendly method for applying
chemicals to trees. Because the chemical is contained entirely within the
injection system and the tree, you no longer are limited by the weather
conditions that affect the application. Applying chemicals this way reduces or
eliminates hazards for birds, and other wildlife. In fact, microinjection can
target the fungal pathogen or insect pests directly within the tree without
harming other beneficial insects. There is no spray drift to think about and
much lower risk of a chemical spill. And it’s cheaper than conventional
spraying.
The Chemjet® microinjection is user friendly, is an on hands technique, you’ll
learn by doing. The start up cost is your chemical products and the Chemjet®
syringes, which are reusable a thousand times plus with careful handling. There
are not a lot of tools required, a cordless drill, 11/64 drill bit, a wood
chisel and a bucket with your chemjet syringes.
The dirill holes of
course will cause tempory minor damage. However, research has shown that,
the drill portals, due to the small size, the trees will compartmentalize the
injured tissue. The holes will fill up with callus tissue, in a short few
weeks, so permanent damage to the tree is avoided.
