The perception about trees has been going through a remarkable change recently.  The traditional thinking about trees as simply a stationary ornament on one’s property is evolving into the realization that trees are actually living organisms that require our care – much like a family pet, but perhaps just a little different.  As tree owners increasingly recognize the value of their trees, they are taking a more active role in caring for their trees and focusing as much on their health as they have on their appearance.

With this new attention being given to tree health, tree owners are now noticing changes in the appearance of their trees – some good and some maybe not so good. Not understanding fully what they are seeing, people are more and more calling in experts (Arborists) to identify those issues, decipher what they mean and recommend the appropriate action to take.

As a natural result, there has been an increase in the demand for Arborists with expertise in the area of Tree Health Care and Recovery. This in turn has resulted in heightened demand from the Arborist community for a wider range of arborceutical drugs, commonly called medicaments. Coupled with the need for more advanced and sophisticated techniques to address tree health issues, this demand has caused  manufacturers to expand their focus and their efforts on new and improved medicaments.

It is important to understand that the key factor in leveraging the value of this broader and more effective range of medicaments is proper diagnosis and a full understanding of how particular medicaments affect the specific trees being treated. The type and amount of dosages are highly dependent upon tree size, species, location, condition and timing and require the knowledge and expertise of a qualified professional who is trained in this field. It is for this reason that the prescription and application of medicament treatments requires state licensing and the use of all medicaments is EPA regulated.

The best candidate for prescribing and applying medicaments to your trees is a Board Certified Master Arborist who is licensed to perform this work. An accurate diagnosis of the problem is critical in the process, since arborceuticals can be used for insect pests, fungal infection, bacterial infection, growth regulation or any combination of these. The BCMA specializes in Tree Health Care and is well-informed on the latest techniques and tools available. Once the proper diagnosis is made, the BCMA fully understands the effects of the prescribed medicaments on the specific trees being treated and can safely and properly apply these treatments.

The Arborist gives the tree a prognosis, or length of time to recover or sustain health. This is always part of the diagnosis process. Depending on the level and degree of stress, treatments alone may not be the only service needed. The tree may also require cultural servicing, such as dead tissue removal (also called deadwood), and excess soil removal, or air spading. Whatever the case, the process includes monitoring progress and managing for irrigation and symptoms of fungal infection or insect infestation to ensure the ultimate survival of the tree.