Seattle Birch Tree Treatments & Pet Safety
Let's Keep Your Pets Safe
At Blooma Tree Experts, we understand that the health and safety of your pets are paramount. We want to provide you with information & data to support our understanding that the Birch tree microinjection treatment, designed to combat Bronze Birch Borer infestations, is formulated with your furry friends in mind.
Below is information provided to us by our chemical supplier – please note that you make all tree care decisions at your own risk, but hopefully this information provides you the data to make an informed decisions.
Direct Injection for Targeted Treatment
Our treatment method involves directly injecting the chemical into the tree, allowing it to quickly absorb the product. This precision ensures that the risk of exposure to your pets is extremely low. Unless a pet were to chew on the tree’s bark and ingest the vascular tissue (which is highly unlikely), they would not come into contact with the product.
Rapid Breakdown in the Environment
The active ingredient in our treatment, Emamectin Benzoate (EB), breaks down rapidly in soil and organic matter, typically within five days. In the rare event of a spill, the chemical will not persist in the environment for long. For extra precaution, you can choose to keep your pets away from the treated area or closely supervising them for a few days post-treatment. Note that this treatment plan is generally effective for two years.
Low Risk to Mammals
Emamectin Benzoate acts as a neurotoxin specifically targeting arthropods and nematodes. Mammals, including dogs, metabolize compounds differently, making the risk of a deadly reaction extremely low. Extensive studies, required for EPA registration, have determined the lethal doses for birds and mammals, revealing that a significant amount of the pure product would need to be ingested to cause adverse effects.
Your Pet's Safety is Our Priority
At Blooma Tree Experts, we are committed to providing safe and effective tree care solutions. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding our microinjection treatment and pet safety, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Why do these treatments at all?
If you notice the top of your birch tree is dead or dying, your tree is most likely infested with the dreaded Bronze Birch Borer.
The Bronze Birch Borer (Agrilus anxius) is a small but formidable insect that poses a significant threat to birch trees, particularly in the greater Seattle area. While this metallic bronze beetle might not draw immediate attention due to its diminutive size, its impact on birch tree populations can be devastating if left unchecked.
Understanding the life cycle and behavior of the Bronze Birch Borer is crucial to combat its destructive tendencies. The adult beetles, measuring only around half an inch in length, emerge during the late spring or early summer. They are characterized by their striking metallic bronze or coppery coloration, which can make them challenging to spot amidst the leaves and bark of birch trees.
Adult beetles lay their eggs on the bark of birch trees, usually targeting weakened or stressed trees. Once hatched, the larvae tunnel into the tree, where they feed on the inner layers of bark, sapwood, and cambium—the critical tissues responsible for the tree's transport of water and nutrients. As they feed and grow, these larvae create characteristic winding galleries under the bark, causing structural damage and disrupting the tree's ability to transport vital resources.
The bronze birch borer will kill your birches if you don't act to stop it. We use a pesticide that is microinjected into each tree, thus avoiding a spray or ground treatment that may bother pets or children. We will remove the deadwood, also, to help improve the tree's health.
If a birch is 30% dead, or more, it should be removed – we'll give you a straight answer to make sure you're not wasting money trying to save a tree that's too far gone. Our arborists can help you remove the tree if need be, but we'll do what we can to save it first if you want to keep it around.
For more information and to set up a complimentary consultation, please submit an online inquiry form or give us a ring at (206) 735-4081.
