We get injections for various reasons, whether to administer medicine or protect us from illnesses. Did you know trees can also get injections for similar reasons?
Green Pointe Tree Care is Sandy, Utah’s tree service specialist, covering everything from tree removals and canopy trimming to tree inoculation and disease control. Here’s what you need to know about tree injections and what they can do for your yard.
What Are Tree Injections?
Tree injections are another way to introduce nutrients into a tree. For example, we often use fertilizer mixes or additional watering and sunlight to help the tree produce the necessary chemicals. With an injection, we can give it those nutrients directly to produce the desired results.
To deal with pest infestations, we might use methods like soil drenching, but they can hurt or fend off beneficial soil organisms. Instead, we can formulate and use specific injections that directly affect the cause of the issue rather than involving unrelated organisms. Similarly, injections substantially reduce the risk of children, pets, or homeowners inhaling or ingesting pesticides and other chemicals.
Types of Injections
A professional arborist will typically use one of three types of arboreal injections:
- Fungicide injection
- Pest control injection
- Macro-infusion systems
Fungicide injections kill off the organisms that cause fungal growth and protect the tree from having its nutrients sapped. Pest control injections provide tree-safe chemicals that fend off specific offenders. Lastly, a macro-infusion system sends nutrients to the tree without affecting your entire yard.
How Does a Tree Injection Work?
Tree injections are effective because of how tree anatomy works.
The Vascular System of Trees
As living organisms, trees have vascular systems that circulate nutrients like our cardiovascular system. While they do not have hearts, their sap flow changes in long cycles.
Instead of veins, trees use xylem and phloem, two types of vascular tissues that help distribute nutrients. Xylem only allows upward flow, moving sap (water and minerals) from the roots to the branches and leaves. Phloem allows the sap to flow in various directions, though much of the sap goes into the tree’s storage cells and helps the tree grow.
Injection Location
If we think of xylem and phloem like blood vessels, instead of a phlebotomist, an arborist is the one holding the needle. We locate the xylem and phloem and place tubes and injection systems at optimal places to directly affect the sap. With the nutrients added to the sap flow circulation, the tree can absorb and benefit from the substances we put in the injection.
Utah’s Tree Experts: Just a Call Away
You wouldn’t accept an injection from anyone less than qualified to do so, right? Rely on our certified arborists to give you that same assurance of experience and expertise for your tree injections.
Green Pointe Tree Care has helped homeowners in and around Sandy, UT, restore their trees from diseases and infestations. If you’re worried about the condition of your trees, contact us for a free quote and to discuss your options today.