TREE CARE
www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation July/August 2016 27
Smiley: That's right, and there haven't been many long-term
studies that have looked at this. We did some similar using
drilling to detect decay in trees, and after five years the only site
we found decay to spread is when penetrated into decayed wood
— which we typically don't do with tree injection. In our study,
we did not find any decay spread in those relatively shallow (tree
injection) holes.
Q: What are the topics you want readers
to take away from this?
Bernick:A big distinction to get the industry aligned on, and Tom
alluded to it earlier, is the importance of doing injections into the
root flares versus higher up on the trunk — that's an important
one. Traveling the country [we see] a wide range in the way that
companies do their applications, everywhere from up at eye level
to down on the root flare to spiraling around the tree — all over.
So getting root flare placement established was key.
Then, the importance of drilling is oftentimes overlooked.
Having sharp drill bits; having nice, clean holes like a surgeon
would do; and putting focus on those techniques. I think the devil
is in the details on these things; so getting the industry on the same
page is a huge contribution.
One distinction right away we wanted to get across is that
tree injection is just one methodology one might use to manage
insects, disease, or tree health issues; and what factors might lead
you down the decision tree to using tree injection and that it
has its pros and cons from a "tool in the toolbox" approach —
I think that's number one. Then, number two, as you make the
decision to use tree injection, ensuring that you are following
some of the guidance on the practices around root flares, drilling,
injection site placement — some of the key distinctions that
are in there regardless of the device you are using. Then, I think
number three, I see an opportunity with the specifications —
especially with the invasive species, emerald ash borer treatments
that are going on with municipalities and government entities —
to create a consistent approach to bidding the work and doing
the work.
The Tree Injection Best Management Practices guide can be
purchased through the ISA athttp://www.isa-arbor.com/store/
product.aspx?ProductID=2112&CID=117
Brandon M. Gallagher Watson is creative director at Rainbow
Treecare Scientific Advancements.
TREE CARE
