As the title suggests, we’ve been investing in the business again, this time with a new Tree Injection Kit. While our Chemjet’s are still a quick, reliable system with the onset of a new client and some rather old trees we felt the time was right to invest in the only no-drill tree injection system available on the market.
Tree Injection is a much-underused resource in the UK.
Unlike the US we seem scared of using tree injection and as such we don’t have either the wide range of equipment or the extensive resources/knowledge in the UK. But we’re hoping to change that, well we’re hoping to change the UK’s outlook on tree care full stop, hence the investment.
So what sets this system apart from the others?
The Bite system is the only tree injection, or tree infusion, system that doesn’t require a hole to be drilled into the tree. Using a narrow lenticular blade it parts the fibres with minimal friction or damage, allowing the liquid to be drawn into the xylem system and distributed throughout the tree. The infusion site closes shortly after the blade is removed and the cambial activity completes the healing process within weeks. A complete contrast to the large amount of localised damage and months of healing caused by drilling that all the other available systems use.
So what does this New Tree Injection Kit do?
It allows us to introduce beneficial nutrients, and fungicides directly into the tree’s vascular system. Helping counteract the negative effects of drought stress, and provide compounds to fight against infection from diseases like Phytophthora, and Pseudomonas syringae, and unlike alternative methods that require drilling and pressure to force the liquid in, there is minimal short-term damage and no long-term damage to the tree.
What about Insecticides?
We can also introduce approved insecticides, that will stay within the tree for at least two years to help control the spread of Oak Processionary Moth, Leaf Miner and a whole host of other harmful insects with no risk to non-target species, water courses or human activity.
Meaning we can finally treat trees in urban areas with minimal worry or the risks associated with spraying. Not that we’re going to retire all of our spraying kits but it just means we can use them less, start to work more proactively and use fewer chemicals with injection.
Can it do anything else?
While it can’t make you breakfast, walk the dog or take the wife out for dinner, if UK approval is forthcoming on a host of other recognised safe treatments, there is no reason that we won’t be able to prevent or treat Ash dieback or any other of the myriad of pests and disease that have been imported into the UK.