Arborjet

rugger01

rugger01

Participating member
Location
MA
All,
So I am toying with the idea of incorporating Arborjet injections into the services offered at my tiny tree co. Right now I refer all of my ipm out to another co. I am thinking of offering treatment for caterpillars mostly (Gypsy Moth is bad by me) to start. I have zero desire to spray. I am the one with the pesticide license so I would do the applications. I would love some feedback. So here are my questions/requests:
1. General feedback. Love it? Hate it? Things to watch out for. Things to try.
2. How do you price it?
3. Have you found it to be profitable? What kind of margins are reasonable to expect?
4. Good idea/bad idea? Hit me.
Thanks
 
rugger01 said:
All,
So I am toying with the idea of incorporating Arborjet injections into the services offered at my tiny tree co. Right now I refer all of my ipm out to another co. I am thinking of offering treatment for caterpillars mostly (Gypsy Moth is bad by me) to start. I have zero desire to spray. I am the one with the pesticide license so I would do the applications. I would love some feedback. So here are my questions/requests:
1. General feedback. Love it? Hate it? Things to watch out for. Things to try.
2. How do you price it?
3. Have you found it to be profitable? What kind of margins are reasonable to expect?
4. Good idea/bad idea? Hit me.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Let the pro-injection vs hate drilling in trees discussion begin...
I use it where systemic products are absolutely necessary for the problem at hand but also try to stress cultural practices and maintainance practices that will increase likelihood of longevity.
Pricing depends on product but I can tell you Tree-Age injections can get pretty steep. $10 to $15 per inch diameter is fairly normal rate in my market for an EAB injection.
However, Tree -Age injections can go sloooooooooow.
 
1) We have a Tree-IV set, and the QUIK-jet AIR. We do lots of EAB treatments, as well as some preventative treatments for Dutch Elm Disease. I like the Arborjet systems.
Drilling: With EAB and Ash, for example, you either treat or you lose, period. With other pests, it may only be necessary to treat once to knock a severe pest infestation down and then continue with good management.

2) Pricing for us depends on the treatment chemical. It can be VERY profitable if jobs are priced and done properly. When one man can do up to $2,000 worth of injections in a single day, it is very profitable...

3) I think its a good idea, as long as you have the manpower to do injections during the treatment seasons.
I agree with @JD3000 that even if you offer injections, be sure to stress cultural maintenance practices. Rather than always just treating for a pest, find the underlying or root cause of the problem (soil issues, poor placement, poor tree maintenance, etc.) For one, you are doing the right thing. Also, you are educating the homeowner on problems that should be fixed for long-term health, and by doing so, you don't end up looking like you're just trying to treat for money. You will get MORE business by being a professional and setting yourself apart from other companies that are just out to make money. We get more business every year because we educate our customers to make informed decisions on what is warranted and what is trivial...

Don't be afraid to drill and inject, IF the treatment is warranted, but don't rush to just treat a symptom rather than addressing the real problem.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I usually try to educate the customer and try to stress the tree as a part of the ecological setting. Sometimes I get through sometimes I walk knowing they didn't listen to a thing. I'll raise a glass with you gents. Thanks a bunch.
 
rugger01 said:
Thanks for the feedback. I usually try to educate the customer and try to stress the tree as a part of the ecological setting. Sometimes I get through sometimes I walk knowing they didn't listen to a thing. I'll raise a glass with you gents. Thanks a bunch.
Click to expand...
When I talk to people about, say ash and EAB, and they ask about EAB and say their tree is looking bad, I ask about it losing leaves in spring/summer and explain about ash anthracnose causing leaf loss, their eyes usually light up and they realize I know what I'm talking about. THAT, my friend, leads to more business in the future!
 
Before legalities, do you have an experienced applicator, preferably a CA or even higher, with an excellent understanding of tree science and injection? If not, these procedures may not be for your company. That is not to say that the skills cant be learned, I would just prefer to see CAs doing the work. You can contact your regional Arbor Jet rep and set up training sessions in all likelyhood. Recommended. You can also contact some local arborists who do this work and get some advice there.

The original Tree Age is a restricted use pesticide and only certified applicators via the state or regional authority can apply it. Subsequent newer emamectin products are general use now. (And faster...)
I dont think they offer any other restricted use products but I could be wrong.

Take home message is to have a well trained and preferably experienced arborist doing the work.
 
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