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| Trunk injection |
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Trunk injection is a method of defending trees against insects without releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, thus protecting man's health and in particular that of children.
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This is not the only method of eliminating harmful insects from plants, but should be used:
1) when trees are close to houses
2) in playgrounds (avoiding insecticides on seating, play furniture, etc)
3) on tall trees (when spraying is not feasible)
4) when other methods do not solve the problem (eg: against Cameraria on Horse chestnuts)
5) in order to protect friendly insects (bees and friendly predators such as lacewings and ladybirds)
The positive aspects can be summarised as follows:
a) no insecticides released into the atmosphere
b) protects friendly and harmless insects
c) long duration
d) maximum effectiveness
The only negative aspect is the hole drilled into the tree trunk (in any case holes are also made by woodworm, birds, pruning, etc.). These harmful effects can be reduced by:
1) drilling as small a hole as possible (3-3.5 mm)
2) drill no deeper than the first two o three annual growth rings
3) be careful and precise
4) use only specialist products
5) disinfect the hole to promote healthy scar tissue
6) use reduced pressure to prevent damage to the vessels (tracheids) which carrry water from the roots to the leaves (we suggest a pressure of 0.5 - 2 bar (conclusions drawn from numerous sections cut from treated plants)
The most important American specialist in trunk injection who has spent his life working and studying trees (he has sectioned at least 10,000 trees) has said "I am not against trunk injection but I am against bad trunk injection": this is true not only for trunk injection but also (again according to the American specialist) for any form of treatment on trees. We are all horrified at the savage way in which trees in streets, parks and gardens are pruned or pollarded, passing from one plant to another with no sanitary precautions and no disinfecting of implements.
Therefore,we recommend that trunk injection should only be used when it is clearly the most appropriate method both for the tree and for man and his environment, employing only professionals or attending courses which teach the fundamental techniques of this practice (there are various courses in the autumn months).
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| Danni da cameraria |
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