Q: I have used imidacloprid as a soil injection product in the past, what are the benefits of trunk injection over this method ?
A: Soil injection with imidacloprid (Confidor) and trunk injection with SilvaShield both provide excellent results against tree insect pests. The benefits of the direct trunk injection method with SilvaShield however are that the treatment is far less dependent upon soil moisture conditions, the features of the particular site (eg. access to soil around the drip line), there is no additional water required for the treatment (SilvaShield is injected neat into a tree) and the method takes a lot less time. At the end of the day this provides far greater flexibility for treatment. Q: How do I apply SilvaShield ?
A: There are a number of specialised tree injectors available in the market place. The SilvaShield formulation has been shown to be compatible with most existing systems. Q: How easy is it to inject trees?
A: Appropriate injection equipment is necessary in order to efficiently and effectively use this product. A certain level of expertise is also required to ensure that injection is carried out properly. It is recommended that trained arborists or otherwise experienced or qualified persons carry out the treatment with this product. Q: How long does it take to inject a large tree?
A: Depending on the application equipment used and the level of expertise of the person carrying out the treatment a large tree (eg. 100 cm in diameter) can take as little as 10 minutes to treat. Q: Does injection damage the tree?
A: The chemical itself has been shown not to cause significant damage to a wide range of tree species when injected directly using a number of different injector systems.
Trials have shown that compartmentalization of the injection points occurs after application and there is no evidence to suggest that direct trunk injection causes any long term structural or physiological damage to the tree.
Q: How does trunk injection protect the rest of the tree?
A: The active ingredient in SilvaShield is imidacloprid which is taken up systemically through the tree vascular system and distributed to areas such as the leaves. Q: How long does treatment with SilvaShield protect the tree ?
A: Trials with eucalypts and thaumastocorids have shown that a single treatment of SilvaShield can control insect numbers for a period of 3 years. The length of protection conferred against other pests in other tree species has not been determined but there is evidence from other applications to suggest that extended protection could be expected.
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