Tree Saver®
P.O. Box 210847
Royal Palm Beach
Florida, 33421 USA
Orders & Info:
561-655-6940
Fax:
561-798-0445
Contac Us:
Richard Maxwell
ISA Certified Arborist
#SO-0105
Brian "BJ" Fischer
ISA Certified Arborist
#FL-5287A
Prevention of the Disease
The control of lethal yellowing in disease susceptible palms has proven to be very successful, however in order to accomplish this, three things must occur.
1.) The proper chemical, oxytetracycline hydrochloride - (OTC), must be used. Tree Saver® is the only company that is licensed for the sale of the OTC Tree Injection Formula, in the State of Florida, for use in palms for the control of Lethal Yellowing.
2.) Injections must be made on a timely basis. Three or four times per year depending on the degree of current infection or future protection desired.
3.) The injections must be made in a good, sincere workmanship like manner.
Lethal Yellowing, referred to in the industry as a phytoplasma like organism, is carried by a flying planthopper (myndus crudus), that feeds on palm sap. It is when the bug feeds that the disease is transmitted. There is no cure. However, we have a very effective preventative program using the Tree Saver®Injection System and a water based antibiotic, oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC). This combats the disease in two ways: 1.) The OTC makes the sap "taste very bad", so the bug finds feeding on treated trees undesirable. 2.) The presence of the OTC seems to greatly retard the phytoplasma’s ability to live and or "prosper". Being a water based antibiotic in a water based organism, the half life of it's presence in the tree is only 4 months, thus the need for a minimum of 3 injections per year. This is a long term, ongoing project and needs to be continued once it is started.
Cost
The cost of this preventative injection program is surprisingly affordable, especially when considering the retail replacement value of the trees you are protecting. For a self administered, ongoing program, depending on the number of trees being treated, the cost ranges from a maximum of $4.00/tree per treatment (for treating just one tree) to a minimum of $1.15/tree per treatment (for treating hundreds of trees). For example: The cost, based on treating small numbers of trees (5 to 30 trees), would be approximately $1.50/tree per treatment. This is based on an ongoing program, the reuse of needles and syringes, and utilizing the casing for 2 treatments. This does not include cost for drills, drill bits, labor, insurance, travel expenses, etc. The above prices are approximate costs for the OTC and casings only. A complete, item by item price list is available HERE.
