Targeted Protection, Delivered Directly Into the Tree
Some tree problems can’t be solved from the outside. Insects and diseases that live under the bark or inside the vascular system need a treatment that gets inside the tree itself. Rausch Tree and Outdoor Services performs professional trunk injection treatments across Burlington and Southeast Wisconsin, most commonly to protect ash trees from emerald ash borer, but also to support trees fighting other pests and vascular diseases. Call (262) 800-4471 for a free estimate.
Emerald Ash Borer: The Biggest Reason Property Owners Call Us
Emerald ash borer has already caused ash mortality approaching total loss in parts of Southeastern Wisconsin, according to Wisconsin Horticulture Extension. It’s a wood-boring insect that feeds beneath the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients, and by the time canopy thinning is obvious, the infestation is often already advanced. Waiting for visible decline significantly lowers the odds that treatment can save the tree.
Why Trunk Injection Is the Standard for Ash Protection
Emamectin benzoate, the active ingredient used in most professional ash protection programs, is applied by injecting it directly into the trunk with specialized equipment, and Extension guidance is clear that professional application is required both for it to work and to avoid injuring the tree. Once injected, the tree’s own vascular system distributes it, which is why the treatment has to go in through the trunk rather than being sprayed or applied to the soil. Extension research indicates a single injection can protect a tree for about two years, with some evidence supporting even longer intervals.
Timing Is Critical
Systemic injections only move through a tree once its vascular system is actively carrying water and nutrients, which is why treatments are performed in spring shortly after leaves emerge, continuing through early summer while the tree is in active growth. Injecting during dormancy wastes the treatment, since a tree with no leaves has nothing pulling the product through its system.
Is Your Ash Tree Still Worth Treating?
Not every ash tree is a good treatment candidate. Trees with more than half their canopy already lost to EAB have a much lower chance of full recovery, though research shows that injections can still stabilize lightly to moderately infested trees or slow the decline of more heavily impacted ones. We evaluate canopy condition, trunk health, and infestation stage before recommending treatment, and we’ll tell you honestly when removal is the more practical option instead of paying for a treatment that’s unlikely to work.
Beyond EAB: Other Uses for Trunk Injection
Trunk injection isn’t limited to emerald ash borer. It’s also used to deliver:
- Systemic insecticides for other boring insects and scale infestations
- Fungicides for certain vascular diseases affecting maple, elm, and other species
- Micronutrients directly into trees showing deficiency symptoms that surface fertilization hasn’t resolved
Signs Your Tree May Need an Injection Treatment
- You have an ash tree that hasn’t yet been treated for emerald ash borer
- Thinning canopy, D-shaped exit holes, or bark splitting on an ash tree
- Woodpecker damage concentrated on one section of the trunk or upper limbs
- A valuable, mature tree that’s showing decline despite adequate water and soil conditions
- Trees on your property that are known to be vulnerable to a pest or disease active in your area
Our Tree Injection Process
- Step 1: Tree and Site Evaluation: We inspect the tree’s species, canopy condition, and any visible signs of pest or disease activity.
- Step 2: Diagnosis: We confirm what’s affecting the tree and whether injection treatment is likely to be effective at its current condition.
- Step 3: Treatment Selection: The right product and dosage are chosen based on tree size, species, and the specific pest or disease involved.
- Step 4: Injection: Treatment is applied directly into the trunk using professional injection equipment, timed to the tree’s active growing season.
- Step 5: Follow-Up Scheduling: Most treatments protect a tree for one to two growing seasons, and we track when your trees are due for their next round.
What Affects the Cost of Tree Injection Treatment
Cost depends on range of factors such as –
- number and size (DBH) of trees being treated
- the product used
- how advanced any existing infestation or disease already is.
Treating a tree proactively, before significant canopy loss, is almost always more cost-effective than treating (or replacing) a tree after heavy decline.
Why Southeast Wisconsin Property Owners Choose Rausch Tree and Outdoor Services
- Veteran-owned and family-operated, founded by Caleb Rausch
- ISA and TCIA members
- BBB Accredited with an A+ rating
- Fully licensed, bonded, and insured
- Workmanship guarantee and one-year service guarantee
- Honest recommendations – we won’t sell you a treatment for a tree that’s past saving
Service Areas Across Southeast Wisconsin
- Counties: Racine County, Walworth County, with service throughout surrounding Southeast Wisconsin communities.
- Cities: Burlington (53105), Lake Geneva (53147), Fontana (53125), Como, Waterford (53185), Lauderdale Lakes, East Troy (53120), Mukwonago (53149), Muskego (53150), Big Bend (53103), Wind Lake (53185), Vernon, Twin Lakes (53181), Genoa City (53128), Paddock Lake (53168), Delavan Lake, Delavan (53115), Elkhorn (53121), Salem Lakes (53168, 53179), Union Grove (53182), Racine (53402, 53403, 53404, 53405, 53406), Kenosha (53140, 53142, 53143, 53144), Kansasville (53139), Somers (53171), Sturtevant (53177), Mt. Pleasant (53403, 53405, 53406), Caledonia (53402, 53405), Eagle Lake (53139), Pleasant Prairie (53158), Bristol (53104), Silver Lake (53170), Wilmot (53192), Bloomfield (53128), and Walworth (53184).
Looking for a professional tree injection treatment in Southeast Wisconsin? Call (262) 800-4471 for your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to treat my ash tree, or can I wait and see?
Waiting isn’t recommended. By the time thinning canopy is obvious, the infestation is often already advanced, and success rates drop the longer treatment is delayed.
How long does a single injection treatment protect my tree?
Most emamectin benzoate injections protect a tree for about two years, with some research supporting longer intervals in certain cases. We’ll set a follow-up schedule specific to your trees.
Is trunk injection safe for the tree and for my property?
Yes, when performed by trained applicators. It’s also considered one of the more environmentally contained treatment methods, since the product stays inside the tree’s vascular system rather than being applied to soil or foliage.
What time of year do you perform injection treatments?
Typically spring through early summer, once leaves have emerged and the tree’s vascular system is actively moving water and nutrients through the trunk.
Is every ash tree worth treating?
No. Trees that have already lost most of their canopy to emerald ash borer have a much lower chance of recovering. We’ll assess your tree honestly and recommend removal if that’s the more practical choice.
Do you treat trees other than ash for injection-based problems?
Yes. Trunk injection can also be used for other insect and disease issues, and in some cases to correct nutrient deficiencies that surface fertilization hasn’t resolved.
Give Your Trees Their Best Defense
If you have ash trees on your property, or a valuable tree that’s declining for reasons that aren’t obvious from the outside, timing matters. Rausch Tree and Outdoor Services will evaluate your trees honestly and recommend the treatment, or the alternative, that actually makes sense. Call (262) 800-4471 today to Schedule a Tree Injection Consultation.
