Crown & Root Drench
Injection application may be made directly the soil underneath it near the roots. Injection of pesticides into a tree trunk directly applies concentrated systemic pesticides into a tree’s vascular tissues for faster translocation.
Soil injection places the pesticide below mulch or turf and directly into the root zone of the tree. Drenching is similar to soil injection, except the pesticide mixture is poured into the soil surrounding the tree. Drenching and injection have the same net benefits in that the pesticide quickly enters the tree’s vascular system. These types of applications are particularly effective in controlling some of the most troublesome insect pests.
Soil injection or drench methods involve placing chemicals in liquid form near the roots in the soil for root uptake. As with the other injection methods, the chemicals must be water-soluble. Chemicals should be applied to moist (but not saturated) soil.
With the soil drench method, you simply spray chemical mixed in water on the soil near the tree’s root crown. Mulch or another surface organic matter is pulled back and the chemical is poured directly on the soil. Then, the mulch is replaced. The amount of chemical used is based on inches of trunk diameter and will be stated on the label.
Soil injection methods vary somewhat, but typical recommendations are to inject chemicals 6-12 inches deep with a high-pressure injector either within 18 inches of the trunk or on a grid. Amounts to be applied depend on trunk diameter, and diameters are added if multiple trees are being treated in an area.
These methods can offer several advantages:
- Little, if any, pesticide applied is wasted to drift or runoff, because it can be applied precisely to where it is needed in the tree.
- Applications may be made during windy and rainy weather because there is no drift or runoff.
- Injection methods for treating some of Florida’s troublesome insects of palm trees can be particularly useful.
- At least with soil injection/drenching, trees are not wounded.
- The soil drench method requires almost no tools.
Palm Spikes
- Place spikes at outer of root ball. This will normally be about 18” to 16” from the trunk depending on the age or variety of the palm being treated.
- For best results, probe to find the outer edge of the root ball
- Place reusable plastic cap over blunt end odf spike and hammer into ground.
- At ground level, remove cap and continue to hammer spike until 2” below ground level
- Lutz Spike normally feed about 9-12 months
- Contents: (5) spikes an (1) plastic pounding cap
- Net weight: 5oz (143g) per spike