Biological and chemical Dutch elm disease prevention summary

In the US there are different options for preventative treatments. The elm owner can choose either a chemical or a biological treatment program. The comparison table below summarizes the characteristics of both kinds of treatments.

	Chemical Preventative Treatment*	Biological Preventative Treatment
Product name	ARBORTECT 20-S	DUTCH TRIG®
Product type	Fungicide	Vaccine
Active ingredient	1H-Benzimidazole, 2-(4-thiazolyl)	Verticillium albo-atrum Isolate WCS850
Manufacturer	Rainbow Scientific Advancements	Tree Care Innovations
Application method	Macro infusion with Macro infusion kit	Inoculation with Dutch Trig tree inoculation tool (see application)
Amount of product used for 20 inch diameter tree	Total of 25 gallons (12 fl. oz. of Arbotect 20-S for each 5 inches of trunk diameter. Dilute each 2.0 fl. oz. of Arbotect 20-S with 1 gal. of Water)	16 drops (One drop of vaccine per injection site)
Height of application	Inject into any exposed root flares, below ground	At any convenient breast height
Root excavation necessary	Yes	No
Drilling of holes necessary	Yes	No
Number of injection sites on exemplary 20 inch DBH tree	30 (1.5 holes in the root flare per inch DBH)	16 (spaced 4 inches apart at breast height)
Size of hole	Max 0,5 inch	4 mm chisel incision
Depth of hole	1 inch past the bark (several year-rings of growth)	Only just through the bark, to get in to the current years growth ring.
Using pressurized equipment	Yes	No
Equipment installation time necessary	Yes	No
On site chemical mixing necessary	Yes	No
Possibility of over dosage with phytotoxic reaction of the elm	Yes (on smaller trees mostly)	No
Average time of application	1-4 hours per tree	1-2 minutes per tree
Timing of treatment	Late May/June	Beginning of growing season, generally in May
Duration of protective effect	2,5 - 3 years	1 growing season (annual application necessary)
Reported efficacy	99%	99%
Eco-acute toxicity	Yes	No
Transport and storage	No special needs	Cooled transport for vaccine and shelf life limited to 6 weeks
Follow-up elm tree inspection	Depending on service of the Tree care company doing the injections	DED inspection is required by a trained arborist prior to the yearly injection

* Information obtained from MSDS, Label and Macro infusion Guide. Visit www.rainbowscivance.com for more information.