Insecticide Soil Drench and Microbiology

[Jace]

Suppose a guy has some younger trees, say 2-4 years old, that have apple tree borers. And these trees have had plenty of mulch around them, good microbial activity...plenty of earthworms and the such in the soil all around the root area.

Imadacloprid drenching to take out the borers, will in return cause damage to the little bitty guys in the soil. So, is there any way of applying the drench that maybe will not be quite so harsh on the microbial activity? Like pouring just around the base, but not so much out away from the trunk where the fibrous roots are...??

Does a guy just have to "do what u gotta do" to deal with the health threatening invader-borer if need be, and just count the cost of having to lose some microbial?

 

[ATH]

Emerald Ash Borer treatment research says apply it right around the trunk to be most effective (I assume you would do the same for an apple, but am not sure...). Just dig a shallow trench 3-4 inches wide out from the trunk (against the trunk, but don't damage bark while you are digging it out...) and slowly pour it into that. I inject it into the soil right at the base - so if you have that ability, it would save the digging.

Having said that, I would personally be leary about putting a systemic into an apple tree I was going to eat from. I know the label says you can, I am just saying I am not sure I would... If I needed to, I'd probably treat the tree now, but not eat any of this year's apples.

 

[Urban Forester]

Jace, have you thought of trunk washing w/Onyx at the proper time. It has a bark penetrant but no systemic movement. It'll stay where you put it. No microbial effect. It does take 56 days to penetrate, but with good timing you can greatly suppress borer activity.

 

[Jace]

Emerald Ash Borer treatment research says apply it right around the trunk to be most effective (I assume you would do the same for an apply, but am not sure...). Just dig a shallow trench 3-4 inches wide out from the trunk (against the trunk, but don't damage bark while you are digging it out...) and slowly pour it into that. I inject it into the soil right at the base - so if you have that ability, it would save the digging.

Having said that, I would personally be leary about putting a systemic into an apple tree I was going to eat from. I know the label says you can, I am just saying I am not sure I would... If I needed to, I'd probably treat the tree now, but not eat any of this year's apples.

I supposethechemical just primarily soaks thru the tissue around the trunk flare applying that way, as a drench, right? Instead of drawn in thru the outer fibrous roots...

Acer Rebrum

Jace, have you thought of trunk washing w/Onyx at the proper time. It has a bark penetrant but no systemic movement. It'll stay where you put it. No microbial effect. It does take 56 days to penetrate, but with good timing you can greatly suppress borer activity.

I'm unfamiliar with it, but I will def check into it, maybe I can kill just the borer(s) that way.

 

[ATH]

Acer Rebrum

Oh...yeah. I only half processed everything - read 'apple tree borer' and just had the "apple" stuck in my mind when I answered!

SO, I'd basal drench away.

Onyx is certainly a good option.

Safari as a bark spray is another option...but kinda expensive if you don't have something else to use the rest of it on.