A simple, hand-held, plastic liquid injector for trees bears a likeness to an overgrown syringe and works on much the same principle. The system is said to be a cost efficient method for injecting insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, and trace elements into any limb or trunk of 2 in. diameter or greater. After an injector has been filled by submerging its tip in solution and pulling up on the spring-loaded "T" handle which is then twist locked, it is ready to be tightly inserted into a pre-drilled hole and unlocked. The internal spring then applies steady pressure delivering the injector's contents, usually in 3 to 5 hours depending on weather and sap viscosity. Once empty, The Chemjet® injectors with their bright red handles are easily seen, quickly retrieved, cleaned, and ready for use again.

EQUIPMENT

•Chemjet® syringe injectors

•Chisel (only needed for large bark furrows)

•Cordless drill with a 11/16’ or a 4.2 mm high speed drill bit

•Kestrel® , Propiconazole 14.3% MEC

•2 ½ gallon bucket for loading & carrying syringes

PREPARATION

•If using the preventative 10 mil dosage rate -Dilute 1 part Kestrel® with 1 parts water and fill the syringe with 20 mils of the solution.

•If using the therapeutic 20 mil dosage rate - do not Dilute the Kestrel® and fill the syringe with full 20 mils of the solution.

The Chemjet® syringes should be placed evenly around the tree just above the trunk flare. If you inject at knee high place the syringes 3 inches apart. There is no difference in uptake time as Propiconazole, a systemic fungicide, ( XMS .. Xylem Mobile Systemic ) does not require high dilution rates with water, so treatment is considerably faster, and there is less tissue injury at the injection site as it has a near neutral pH factor."  It is most important to treat your trees as a preventative application than as a curative application. Once a tree becomes infected is near impossible to save your tree.

See drill size comparison of the chemjet 11/64" to the macro 5/16" drill size                                         Chemjet drill size:  11/64" =  O  which is half the size of Macro drill size:   5/16" = O

SAFETY : Propiconazole taste nasty. It will sting eyes and cuts, but causes no permanent damage if rinsed immediately. Follow the label directions. It may irritate sensitive skin, so wear elbow length PVC gloves, safety glasses and old clothes when injecting. •••Take care when using sharp equipment such as drills and chisels.

TIMING: Injection is most effective in spring, summer & autumn, on warm, sunny mornings. Early morning is the ideal time as the trees will shut down to conserve water around noon time.  Avoid injecting on days over 100°F. Propiconazole has a two year residual and it is recommended to repeat a follow up treatment approximately 22-24 month later. If your trees are infected with early sighs and survives the first treatment, it is recommended to retreat in a years time. Preventative treatments, before infection has occurred, has been found to be more effective than curative treatments.

Step 1 Carefully load the Chemjet® syringes from a bucket that contains the diluted Kestrel ® ( Propiconazole MEC 14.3%) solution. Immerse the tip of the syringe in the solution and pull the plunger back slowly to minimize any air bubbles forming in the syringe. Twist the plunger 1/4 turn to leave syringe in the Locked position.

Step 2 When injecting, if the bark furrows are deep, remove only enough of outer bark to get a good seal with the syringe. A chisel can be used, however this is not broadly recommended as it can cause unsightly scars in the bark for a short time until they weather a while. If using a chisel be careful not to go deeper than the bark tissue.

Step 3 Drill a hole into the tree trunk. Injection needs to be into the sapwood, so don't drill any deeper than  1  1/4 to 1 3/4” inch. Drill the hole at knee height so that it is comfortable to inject, and at a slight downward angle. Do not inject trees under 2 ½” diameter Note: The syringe will penetrate the sap wood only about ½ inch for a proper seal. The screw thread effect on the nozzle is for strength and does not need to be inserted into the tree. If weeping occurs, with the open palm of your hand, apply a gentle, but firm nudge to seat the syringe a little deeper into the sap wood.

Step 4 Drill a hole every 3 inches apart around the tree trunk (this is almost one hand width). Multi stemmed trees need holes in each trunk.

Step 5 As You insert syringe nozzle into the drilled hole avoiding any twisting to prevent damage to the syringe tip.  You will not need to the use the thread at the top of the syringe tip (It is to provide strength to the nozzle). Gently push the syringe tip into the hole to get a good seal. The Injector will seat within a ½“ into the xylem or sap wood. Release the plunger from the cocked position. As mentioned above, you may have to give the red plunger handle a gentle nudge with the palm of your hand to help get a better seal.

Step 6 Under ideal conditions the syringes should be finished injecting in 3-5 hours. Note that trees can vary on the time taken to be injected depending on the tree's health, time of day and weather soil  conditions. You may have to leave the syringe over night.  If significant leakage occurs try injecting into another hole or delay injection to another day. Remove syringes once all the Kestrel ® ( Propiconazole ) has been injected.

Step 7 Count the syringes before use to ensure that none are lost while injecting. After use clean the syringes with warm soapy water, (above 95 degrees F) rinse in clean water. A regular application of silicon spray inside the syringe's chamber will ensure they will inject smoothly. Syringes should be disassembled at least once a season and cleaned using the manufacturers instructions. 

 

If you ever want to kill a tree, you would simply have create damage to the trunk flare, into the thin layer beneath the bark it is called the Cambium. By doing so, you cut off the tree's supply line that carries sugars from the leaves of the tree to the root system and the tree could die. The trunk flare is a very sensitive and a critical area, as it is the transition area from the roots to the leaves and vice versa. Any damage is considered substantial to this area. Even a small gouge that penetrates through the bark can cause serious damage to a tree's vigor and limit its long-range health.

Lawn mowers and weed eaters cause irreparable damage to the base of the trees. As does treating trees for fungal diseases or insect problems, drilling numerous large holes 5/16"  around trunk flare or the base of the tree can cause long term damage, that is not visible to the naked eye. Wounds are serious enough by themselves, but the wounded tree must also protect itself from pathogens that invade these wounds. Insects and soil borne microorganisms often attack the injured cambium and invade adjacent healthy tissue, greatly enlarging the affected area. Trees can be completely girdled from microbial attack following injury. Decay fungi also become active on the wound surface, and structural deterioration of the woody tissues beneath the wound will often occur. Wound closure will be delayed or be totally non existent due to this unforeseen damage. When the cambium is damage in this critical area, interrupting the flow of water, food and nutrients between the roots and the leaves, impeding the ability of the tree to grow and may cause eventual death.  Be sure to place the Chemjet® Injector Syrinces above the trunk or root flare where there is no chance for dirt and debris to enter the wounds following treatment.

The flare roots are exposed 3-4 inches below the soil level, the injectors and harness are installed and connected to the pressurized reservoir tank,  as the injection begins, taking 6 to 24 hours for completion. After removal of the equipment, the dirt is replaced around the root flares,  filling the drill portals with dirt and debris. This will cause serious canker and, microbial infections to the cambium and sap wood tissue. We are trying to save the tree from one disease and by doing the job in the dirt, we inflict more serious problems than  we can possibly imagine.    ..... DO IT IN THE DIRT ....  Out of SIGHT .... Out of MIND .... !!!!!!!

The Injectors are placed  3" apart around the tree at knee high ( 0ne injector for each diameter inch )  Uptake is within  3-5 hours, relitive to humidity, air temperature, wind conditions, soil moisture and the health condition of the tree. If necessary leave the injectors over night. The job is out of the dirt, avoiding soil borne microbial and canker infections.  Wound closure is within 3-5 weeks due to the smaller  drill portals of11/64",  which is half the size of the required macro-injection drill portals.     Result.... Less Labour... Less Invasive Damage........    A Healthier,   A Happier,   CHEMJET TREE !!!

Meristem

Meristem cells are plant tissue whose cells actively divide to form new tissues that cause the plant to grow. The originally undifferentiated cells of the meristem can produce specialized cells to form the tissues of roots, leaves, the cambium and other plant parts. The meristem includes the growing tips of roots and stems (the apical meristems) and the tissue layer known as cambium..... Meristem cells play an important role in regeneration and wound closure ....The one most important factor is that wound closure is much faster and more efficient up the trunk stem extending from above the trunk base and into the to upper branches as it is associated with stem growth, the bark tissue, the canbium, sap wood ,which is all part of the annual increase stem diameter.

Wound Closure

There are very good research studies on wound closure. Small, shallow holes should be enough to allow us to inject the needed amount of product into the tree and cause the least amount of damage. A tree in good general healthy condition, these very small shallow wounds ( 4.2 mm  or 11/64" drill portal ) created in the drilling process close very readily and will heal within weeks.  Oaks trees generally have a higher rate of wound closure.  

TO ORDER KESTRE® by the Case 4 x 1 gal jugs : Phoenix Environmental Care, P.O. Box 370, 
Valdosta, GA 31603-0370    www.phoenixenvcare.com     KESTREL®  comes in Gallons and Quarts Jugs

Disclaimer: This article may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator’s responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The Writer assumes no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.