Biological pathology/entomology resources

Bob Tooley

I'm working toward a better understanding of the biological and environmentally-friendly methods of addressing tree disease and insect problems using injected materials into the tree's circulation system -vs- exterior pesticides applications.
I'm also using a 52-mineral liquid (a human vitamin from humic-shale) as a substitute to the use of the standard NPK injection fertilizers in tree feeding programs. I've also worked with raising or lowering the tree's internal fluid pH factor as a means of retarding disease advancement in some trees and against some selective pathogens... I've had limited success injecting the 'worm killer' formulation of the bacteria "BT" against some leaf sawfly-type insects, but the jury is still out as to the practicality/probability issues. My goal is to develop a series of programs using very basic application equipment -vs- some of the more expensive 'tools' and present 'brand named' formulations... I'd like to see disease and insect control field come within the reach of all tree companies who now lack the equipment and weather/timing related complications... All information and programs, etc., will be developed for public domain use...

Eric Frei

what is your preferred tool?

Best tree injection system

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Bob Tooley

I use a 1-quart hand sprayer with a modified tip made from a spray wand so the tip can be inserted into a 1/4" drilled hole. Generally I use only a pint of material in the tank at any one time and pressurize the tank so the material flows out slowly and under very low pressure. The spray wand end has the trigger and the regulator valve, and I modified a small plastic splash guard to prevent blow-back from the injection site. I can use the 1/4" injection site to minimize wound injury, but it requires me to use the same hole approx. three times so I have to go around the tree three times injecting each hole. I also use the same system for fertilizing because when fertilizer is injected or applied into the ground around the tree, it promotes root competition from healthier trees within the feeding zone, so I apply it directly into the tree where only the weak tree gets the treatment... The whole injection systems costs about $15.US and the materials are a minimal expense...
The biggest problem is in having to explain to 'professionals' who use spraying the biological aspect of a tree...the biological dynamic -vs- the static size and weight... a tree is only one year old for dynamics purposes because only that season's cambium is 'flow related' and the rest is non-reactive previous seasons wood..........In general, a 20-ton tree for the static value might actually have a less-then 100-pound dynamic value...and I'm not treating the whole tree's mass...only the 100-pound active biological portion.

Eric Frei

Good point, how about posting up some pics of your sprayer ... you might end up starting a whole new fad.

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Bob Tooley

I took some pictures of the injector system today and I'll 'try' to get them posted soon. (may be late, I have to use it tomorrow, and for the rest of the week..weather dependent...) I think one of the most important recognitions has to be how so little material can do, what some see as, so much work, so the primary principles and biological aspects are far more important then how the program is applied. I'm going to try to work through the biological issues and hope anyone with 'any' questions will ask them so we can work through the process together and as a group.

Bob Tooley

Photo-1 shows the entire system..(2009 I'm using a new plastic tube-to-tank output connection...less subject to slight leaks)
Photo-2 a little closer view of the injector unit and tank
Photo-3 is the modified tank outlet section... drill a 1/4" hole in the yellow tip where the sprayer hole (is/was) and use a 1/4" tube and brass tube insert to hole the tube into the cap when re-installed... (the 2009 connection uses a 3/8" brass reducer to the 1/4" tube...and I'll get photos of it soon...)
Photo-4 is the injector itself and the splash guard has been removed so the tip shows better... the tubing and the green tip are sold for aquarium tank air pumps..
Photo-5 is the injector unit...normally there is a spray wand attached to the tip, but I use just the small green nozzle tip which seals the hole, but doesn't fit into the hole...
Photo-6 is a more close-up of the unit...it's important to disable the trigger from locking on, so you have to cut the plastic tab off which holds the trigger down and insure it only pumps when you apply thumb pressure.
Photo-7 & 8 are what this little system has replaced....