A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests James ...

24Stem InjectionStem injection (including hack-and-squirt) involves herbicide concentrate or herbicidewatermixtures applied into downward incision cuts spaced around woody stems. Cutsare made by an ax, hatchet, machete, brush ax, cane knife, or a variety of cutting toolsand even cordless drills. Tree injection is a selectivemethod of controlling larger trees, shrubs, and vines(greater than 2 inches in d.b.h.) with minimum damageto surrounding plants. Stem injection is the fastestand most cost-effective method for nonnative treesand large shrubs. Injection treatments are sometimesnot as effective in controlling multiple-stemmed speciescompared to the faster basal bark treatments,but may be easier in remote or rough terrain wherea backpack sprayer might be impractical or cumbersome.Stem injection is physically demanding forthe applicator, who must repeatedly and accuratelystrike target trees with a sharp tool before deliveringthe herbicide into the cut. For best results, sharpentools frequently.Incisions must be deep enough to penetrate the barkand inner bark, slightly into the wood. Do not make Cane knife.multiple cuts directly above or below each otherbecause this will inhibit movement of the herbicidewithin the stem. A complete girdle or frill of the stemis not needed or desirable. Space the injection cuts 1to 1.5 inches apart edge to edge (or per label instructions)around the circumference of each trunk individuallyor within a clump at a convenient height. Usea handheld, chemical-resistant 1- to 2-quart spraybottle to apply 0.5 to 2 mL of concentrated herbicideor dilutions (prescribed on the label) into the cut. Theamount will depend on the size of cut and how muchthe cut can hold without the herbicide running ontothe bark. Apply herbicide to each cut until the exposedarea is thoroughly wet. The herbicide should remainin the injection cut to avoid wasting herbicide and to Hack-and-squirt method.prevent damage of surrounding plants. All injectedherbicides can reach untreated plants by root graftsbetween like species, and uptake of root exudates by all species results in nontargetdamage. Herbicides with soil activity can damage nearby plants when washed fromincisions into the soil by unexpected rainfall soon after application. Avoid injectiontreatments if rainfall is predicted within 48 hours.Cutting tools for hack-andsquirttreatment.Penetrate the bark and innerbark, slightly into the wood.Steven T. ManningApply herbicide into each cutuntil thoroughly wet.Steven T. Manning