This is a question that our salespeople and technicians get asked quite often.
The quick answer is YES. As can be read in other posts such as Our process to protect valuable ash trees, the method that we use keeps the formulation within the system of the tree. The formulation is injected into the tree trunk via small plugs, which act as one-way valves, and it stays in the tree.
Other systems such as soil drenching, put pesticides into the environment. In a letter to the USDA, concerned citizens in Pesticide Action Network North America, Toxics Action Network, and The SafeLawns Foundation, stated the following with respect to soil drenching.
“…we believe direct soil applications of imidacloprid presents the vast potential for too many unintended consequences. Among imidacloprid’s known deleterious impacts are known to be:
a) Toxicity to birds, fish, crustaceans, earthworms and most especially honeybees, which are essential for the pollination of vast amounts of the world’s food;
b) Potential for migration into water. Imidacloprid can persist in soil for 26.5 to 229 days in soil and has been detected in both ground and surface water in New York. California put imidacloprid on its groundwater protection list due to its potential to contaminate groundwater;
c) Potential impacts to humans. Imidacloprid has been linked in animal studies to reproductive, mutagenic and neurotoxic effects.
d) Several nations, including France and Germany, have banned soil-based applications of imidacloprid due to its aforementioned toxicity issues.”
Although the article is specifically about the Asian Longhorned Beetle, the same process and pesticide is used by some companies for Emerald Ash Borer. Therefore it is important to ask any company that may treat your ash trees what is the method they use, and what chemical they use.
It is also noteworthy that TREE-age (ememectin benzoate) is more effective over a longer period of time than imidacloprid. See past post Insecticide Options for Treating Emerald Ash Borer
The complete letter, and associated article, can be read on the following link…
