News

Arborjet | Ecologel Introduces Advanced Technology in Trunk Injection

Arborjet | Ecologel Unveils Innovative New Solution for Green Industry Professionals

2023 Taking Root Scholarships Awarded

Arborjet | Ecologel is pleased to announce that it has awarded the 2023 Taking Root Scholarship. Now in its tenth consecutive year, the program offers up to $10,000 in scholarship to students who plan to pursue full-time studies in forestry, plant sciences, horticulture, landscape architecture, entomology or a related major at an accredited two-or four-year college. This year, Arborjet will award scholarships to the following two deserving students.

Taylor Sirois from Seekonk, MA plans to double major in Arboriculture, Landscape Management and Ecological Forest Management, at Paul Smith’s College, located in the Adirondacks. She affirms that arboriculture has truly helped her find herself, and find her passion, and it is the reason she is pursuing higher education in this field. She found that working alongside people who share her appreciation for hard work and the environment has proven extremely rewarding. Sirois adds, “Arborists support each other and work together, helping to make sure that the environmental trades are not discounted as inferior to more traditional academic pursuits.” 

Sirois says she has had many valuable opportunities within the arboriculture industry, from running machinery and chainsaws to pruning, cabling, and preservation. This past year, she was tasked with giving an individual presentation to the public where she taught the audience how to safely operate a chainsaw with proper personal protective equipment. Before finding her confidence and passion in arboriculture, she feels that she never could’ve imagined tackling such an assignment, and she looks forward to increasing her knowledge regarding treatment options and preservation. 

This experience further solidified her desire to study all aspects of arboriculture, not just the cutting down of trees, but the cultivation, management, and biological study of trees and their response to the environment and human practices. She can’t wait to make a difference in this impactful business.   

Natniel Zemede, a resident of Oakland, CA, will study at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the fall. Zemede has chosen to pursue a major in Plant Pathology within the Doctoral Program at UCLA, focusing on the management of invasive insects and diseases. His passion lies in the medical field, but he aspires to go beyond traditional care and explore plant pathology, and the role it plays in the overall well-being of communities. 

By pursuing this major, he aims to contribute significantly to managing the spread of invasive insects and diseases, which have the potential to wreak havoc on vital crops and delicate natural ecosystems. He aspires to become a driving force in developing effective strategies that will combat ecological threats and hopefully, ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for all. He adds, “I believe that this field of study can have a profound impact on the health and well-being of communities.” He hopes to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful contribution to this field and address the challenges faced by those in need.

“We invite parents, educators, counselors, and members of the tree care community to come together with us in inspiring and supporting dedicated students. Our aim is to encourage young minds to channel their ingenuity and passion towards a career that aligns with our company’s core philosophy and mission – saving trees and preserving urban forests. The recipients of this year’s awards have showcased exceptional achievements within their schools, and they’re driven to contribute their skills and talents to further the growth of this vital industry,” said Russ Davis, Arborjet’s President and CEO.

Arborjet | Ecologel has consistently supported academic research across the country. Recipients for the Taking Root Scholarship program must be graduating U.S. high school seniors planning to major in forestry or a related major for the entire academic year at an accredited two-or four-year college or university. For further information on this year’s recipients and to find out more about the scholarship, please visit: Taking Root Scholarship Program. 

Arborjet | Ecologel  is a global leader in environmental stewardship: protecting trees, reducing overall water usage, and providing products with people and planet in mind. Innovative plant health and sustainability are at the root of everything Arborjet | Ecologel does. Backed by years of research, they remain committed to advancing the green industry through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and exceptional customer service. For over 20 years, Arborjet | Ecologel has helped protect millions of trees from pests and disease, and helped save millions of gallons of water.

Media Contact: Kelly Rostad kgrostad7@gmail.com

City of Palmdale Exceeds 20% Mandated Water Conservation:

Arborjet | Ecologel, leaders in plant health care and water management solutions are pleased to
announce that according to the Palmdale Water District (PWD), they collaborated with two of the district’s
top water users – the City of Palmdale and the Antelope Valley Union High School District, to reduce their
water usage last year by more than the mandated 20% compared to 2020. Proven data shows in the two
districts combined, PWD saved enough water in 2022 to serve about 300 Palmdale households with four
people for one year.

PWD began conservation outreach in April 2021 before a statewide drought was declared. City of
Palmdale Parks Superintendent Steven J. Montenegro said, “Trained urban grounds and green spaces
staff applied lessons learned during previous drought cycles to manage the impact on the city’s urban
forest. City of Palmdale Inspector, I.S.A. Certified Arborist, Evan Armstrong adds “The urban grounds and
green spaces team for the City of Palmdale strives to exemplify a best-in-class mentality which is
reflected in the daily implementation of water conservation best management practices.”

“Collaboration with PWD has been exemplary,” said Palmdale Landscape Superintendent Paul
Wood. “We are committed to using water wisely and remain proactive in irrigation management. The team
surveyed sites and reduced programs to meet the guidelines. We utilized central control to manage
irrigation systems, adjusted programs based on daily weather data and recognized excessive flow when
there was a failure, ensuring repairs happen promptly” said Wood.

“We are encouraged and delighted by the collaboration between stakeholders,” said Montenegro. “We
recommended PWD add innovative technology such as Hydretain® to their water conservation rebate
program and were pleased with their positive response.”

“Hydretain served an important role in our water conservation success last growing season.
Applying Hydretain to turf and planter areas allowed us to mitigate plant stress, declining plant
health and unsightly curb appeal typical when reducing irrigation of green spaces in our high
desert microclimate. Palmdale is in the Mojave desert. Hydretain is a great product that can
quickly compensate for irrigation system inefficiencies common in most older systems,” said
Montenegro.

Ecologel’s flagship brand, Hydretain® is designed to drastically reduce watering requirements of
turfgrasses, trees, shrubs, flowers, and agriculture by up to 50%. It works by allowing turf and plants to
use the moisture vapor in the soil that would otherwise be lost to evaporation. Different from a wetting
agent or a superabsorbent polymer, it attracts moisture vapor from the soil and condenses it back into
usable water droplets.

According to Rick Irwin, President of Ecologel LLC, “Municipalities and award winning landscape
companies across the country are offering Hydretain application services to help successfully maintain
healthy sports fields, parks, urban forests, lawns and landscapes using far less water.”

Hydretain’s ability to manage soil moisture between watering cycles and/or rainfall, provides
many other benefits such as, increased seed germination, enhanced fertilizer efficiency,
improved sod establishment, extended flower life and maximized crop production. Hydretain
is safe to use on commercially grown food as well as residential vegetable and herb
gardens, school grounds, sports and playing fields, and golf courses.

PWD Resource and Analytics Supervisor Claudia Bolanos says she meets regularly with stakeholders
and provides monthly water usage reports to facilitate water management. “Because of the meetings and
collaboration, PWD began offering commercial rebates, including ones for landscape conversion,
weather-based irrigation controllers, and moisture retaining soil additives. We will continue working
together to find ways to save. Conservation needs to continue no matter how much rain we get. It really is
the way of life now.”

Media Contact: Kelly Rostad kgrostad7@gmail.com

About: Arborjet | Ecologel are partners in plant care with a focus on environmentally responsible solutions for tree
injection technologies, water conservation, and plant nutrition. Founded in 2000, Arborjet Inc. has always focused on
providing the most effective formulations and delivery systems to protect trees, shrubs, and plants from a wide variety
of insect, disease, and nutritional concerns. Ecologel Solutions LLC. is a long standing, premier developer and
manufacturer of innovative products for water conservation, plant nutrition and pond and lake management. Together, both companies are backed by years of research, and remain committed to advancing the industries they
serve through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and exceptional
customer service.

About: PWD Since 1918, Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable cost. PWD strives
for excellence in providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help their residents; educating
the community on water-use efficiency; and leading the region in researching and implementing emerging
technologies that increase operational efficiency.

Arborjet | Ecologel Sponsor Project EverGreen for Fifth Consecutive Year:

Feb.1, 2023: Arborjet | Ecologel, leaders in plant health care and water management solutions, are pleased to announce that for the fifth consecutive year, they will be an official sponsor of Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops™ program in 2023. “We are proud to support Project EverGreen as their mission directly aligns with our philosophy of preserving green spaces, including lawns, trees, parks and communities in a sustainable way,” said Ecologel President Rick Irwin.

GreenCare for Troops (GCFT) is a needs- based program for active-duty deployed service members. Last year, the program engaged 2,000 active volunteers, who helped more than 1,000 military families maintain their home lawns. Since its inception, more than 12,000 military families and 7,000 contractors have registered for the program donating more than $15 million towards in-kind services.

Ecologel is a natural fit for the program as they are a premier developer and manufacturer of innovative products for water conservation. One of their flagship products, Hydretain® is a revolutionary soil moisture management technology that is designed to significantly reduce watering requirements of turfgrasses, trees, shrubs, flowers, container plants and agriculture by as much as 50 percent.

Ecologel has committed to provide free Hydretain products to help maintain the lawns and landscapes of deployed military personnel, while also helping them reduce their water bills. Through GCFT, military personnel can request lawn and landscaping services during their period of deployment. Volunteers who provide these services can sign up for free Hydretain products once they are matched with a military family.

“We are fortunate to have Arborjet | Ecologel as a sponsor again this year. We're all working toward the common goal of maintaining healthy green spaces while supporting GCFT and SnowCare for Troops (SCFT) across the country. In addition to their financial and product donations, Ecologel’s Marketing Director, Sarah Spatola is volunteering her time on the GreenCare for Troops Committee, helping further support the program’s initiative. Our goal is to continue to create environments that bring families, neighbors, and communities together in support of a greener, healthier, cooler Earth” stated Cindy Code, Executive Director Project EverGreen.

In 2021, Ecologel began offering another beneficial product pertaining to SnowCare for Troops. Na-X, which quickly reduces sodium levels in the soil, and can be used to flush sodium left behind from the use of ice-melt products. Na-X will continue to be available to volunteers through the 2023 sponsorship.

About Arborjet | Ecologel: Arborjet | Ecologel are partners in plant care with a focus on environmentally responsible solutions for tree injection technologies, water conservation, and plant nutrition. Arborjet Inc. focuses on providing the most effective formulations and delivery systems to protect trees, shrubs, and plants from a wide variety of insect, disease, and nutritional concerns. Ecologel Solutions LLC. is a long standing, premier developer and manufacturer of innovative products for water conservation, plant nutrition and pond and lake management. Together, both companies are backed by years of research, and remain committed to advancing the industries they serve through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and exceptional customer service.

About Project EverGreen: Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Project EverGreen is a national non-profit organization committed to helping people work together to create healthy green space. They do this through GreenCare for Community initiatives that revitalize parks and public green spaces, and through the GreenCare for Troops program that mobilizes lawn and landscape services for military families. Their efforts, empowered by donations and volunteers, result in remarkable lifestyle improvements, environmental impact and economic benefits.

Arborjet Taking Root Scholarship Program

Woburn, MA. Jan.31, 2023: Now in its tenth consecutive year, Arborjet Taking Root Scholarship Program will award eligible applicants up to $10,000. Arborjet | Ecologel, a leader in plant health care, announces the 2023 program will award scholarships to graduating high school seniors, who have a desire to pursue a career in arboriculture or plant health care, with a passion to study the science and technology to advance the industry.

Ideal candidates should demonstrate prior community engagement and a curiosity to explore plant health care needs. This includes, but is not limited to the study of plant pathology, entomology, or chemistry related to invasive insect & disease management, arboriculture, urban forestry, horticulture, and landscape architecture.

“We want parents, educators, counselors and the greater tree care community to join us in encouraging young students to transform their ingenuity and passion into a career in this important industry. Through this scholarship program, we recognize dedicated students who are already demonstrating achievement in their schools and communities, and who want to lend their skills and talents to continue to grow our industry,” said Arborjet President and CEO Russ Davis.

Applicants for Arborjet’s 2023 Taking Root Scholarship Program must be graduating U.S. high school seniors planning to major in forestry or related major (listed above) for the entire 2023-2024 academic year at an accredited two or four-year college or university. Interested students and educators can find out more at Taking Root Scholarship Program. The application officially opens to students February 1 and the deadline to apply is April 6, 2023.

Media Contact: Kelly Rostad kgrostad7@gmail.com

About Arborjet | Ecologel: Arborjet | Ecologel are partners in plant care with a focus on environmentally responsible solutions for tree injection technologies, water conservation, and plant nutrition. Arborjet Inc. focuses on providing the most effective formulations and delivery systems to protect trees, shrubs, and plants from a wide variety of insect, disease, and nutritional concerns. Ecologel Solutions LLC. is a long standing, premier developer and manufacturer of innovative products for water conservation, plant nutrition and pond and lake management. Together, both companies are backed by years of research, and remain committed to advancing the industries they serve through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and exceptional customer service

Discovery Forestry Celebrates 100th Episode

Discovery Forestry Celebrates 100th Episode

Discovering Forestry Podcast, ​​the industry’s only podcast focused on all things tree and landscape is celebrating its 100th episode January 2nd 2023. The podcast’s hosts, Joe Aiken & Korey Lofy combine over 60 years of industry knowledge and experience and discuss some of the trends, concerns, and opportunities in the fields of forestry and arboriculture, including the latest technologies developed by Arborjet | Ecologel where both hosts are employed.

Korey Lofy, co-host and producer of Discovering Forestry is Arborjet’s Rocky Mountain Territory Manager and helps tree care companies and municipalities in the Rocky Mountain region grow their plant healthcare programs. “We started the podcast with the goal of educating people about the importance of preserving trees, and it has grown into so much more than we ever imagined. We’re helping our listeners discover new trends in the industry and guiding tree and plant care professionals on how to grow their business, and we’re really having a lot of fun doing it,” says Lofy, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with a B.S. Urban Forestry, Forest Recreation, and Interpersonal Communication. He is an ISA Certified Arborist with a pesticide applicator’s license in four states and is the ISA’s Rocky Mountain Chapter’s 2021 Arborist of the Year.

Joe Aiken, Regional Technical Manager for the Great Lakes region, has 35-plus years experience in the tree care industry. Aiken has worked in all phases of tree care, both as a licensed applicator and an ISA certified arborist. He routinely conducts product seminars and presentations on various arboriculture topics, which are attended by arborists, city foresters, plant health care technicians, master gardeners, university extension agents, grounds departments, and research personnel. He shares the belief and goal of tree preservation, and the importance of educating others on the benefit of environmentally sustainable solutions for maintaining and caring for the world’s urban forests. He is a founding member of the Arboriculture Society of the Michigan Foundation, and Curator of the Arboriculture Historical Society helping spearhead the first ever Arboriculture Museum in Detroit, MI. on Belle Isle State Park. He also serves as the committee chair for the Michigan Tree Climbing Championship, and works with the ISA International Historic committee helping share 100 years of Arboriculture with the world!

Media Contact: Kelly Rostad kgrostad7@gmail.com

Arborjet | Ecologel Recognized as BioPreferred Champions by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Arborjet | Ecologel, leaders in plant health care, are pleased to announce they have been recognized as BioPreferred Champions by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Ecologel Solutions, LLC was an official Pioneer of the program as one of the first 500 companies to earn the right to display the USDA Certified Biobased Product label on a certified product. As Program Participants, both Arborjet and Ecologel have been instrumental in the success of the USDA BioPreferred® Program, which is celebrating 20 years as the Federal Government’s official advocate and market accelerator for biobased products.

“We are thrilled with this honor which signifies both company’s long-term commitment to using products that are environmentally friendly, and promote sustainability by using renewable resource materials. The USDA biobased label provides added comfort to our customers in knowing that the products they are using to help save the world’s water supply are produced using renewable organic carbon components,” said Rick Irwin, President of Ecologel Solutions, LLC.

Arborjet | Ecologel BioPreferred products tested and certified for their biobased content include:

● Hydretain Root Zone Moisture Manager, certified to contain 93% biobased content, reduces watering requirements by up to 50% while also increasing nutrient uptake.

● NutriRoot 2-2-3, with a biobased rating of 86% is a unique blend of nutrients, seaweed extract, humic acid, surfactants, and humectants designed to increase root development and reduce water stress.

According to USDA Rural Development, “the goal of the “BioPreferred Program is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. It was first introduced in the 2002 Farm Bill with the goal of increasing the development, purchase, and use of biobased products. It requires federal agencies, and contractors to give purchasing preference to biobased products.”
This program has participation from businesses in 47 countries and more than 1,500 companies across the U.S. The program reports over a 500% increase in certification of upstream materials from 2015 to 2022. This includes products cataloged as eligible for federal purchasing preference across 139 product categories, and an increase in reporting of biobased purchases by federal contractors nationwide.

Media Contact: Kelly Rostad kgrostad7@gmail.com

About: Arborjet | Ecologel are partners in plant care with a focus on environmentally responsible solutions for tree injection technologies, water conservation, and plant nutrition. Arborjet Inc. focuses on providing the most effective formulations and delivery systems to protect trees, shrubs, and plants from a wide variety of insect, disease, and nutritional concerns. Ecologel Solutions LLC. is a long standing, premier developer and manufacturer of innovative products for water conservation, plant nutrition and pond and lake management. Together, both companies are backed by years of research, and remain committed to advancing the industries they serve through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and exceptional customer service. Arborjet | Ecologel is a proud supporter of Project Evergreen,”working to create a greener, healthier, and cooler Earth.”

Award Winning Landscaper Cuts Water Use in Half

With California and much of the west experiencing severe heat and drought, an award winning landscape professional is proving that healthy landscapes are still possible using half the water. With products provided by Arborjet | Ecologel, industry leaders in plant health care and water conservation, landscapers such as Ed Wallace, Midwest Landscaping are offering their clients environmentally sustainable solutions.

(more…)

Proven Treatment for Spotted Lanternfly

Arborjet Inc., based in Woburn and a leader in plant health care, has developed a proven and effective
treatment solution to help mitigate the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) discovered this week in Springfield,
Massachusetts. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture this invasive pest “could be the most
destructive species in 150 years.”

To treat trees for the Spotted Lanternfly, professional applicators apply a systemic micro-injectable
product IMA-jet and ACE-jet. “In field trials, this treatment proved successful in eliminating the pest from
the host tree and reducing honeydew and sooty mold production and egg masses,” said Don Grosman
Ph. D., Technology Advancement Manager & Entomologist at Arborjet.

“Arborjet uses the latest and most effective technology, injecting and sealing the formulation in the tree’s
vascular system. Nothing is placed in the soil or into the air, making it a more sustainable treatment
option, with far greater efficacy than other methods,” states Russ Davis, Arborjet President and CEO.

The Spotted Lanternfly nymphs and adults will feed on a wide range of over 100 different plant species,
including grape, hops, grasses and fruit trees, and other trees, particularly Tree of Heaven, walnut,
maple, birch, and others, posing a serious threat to agriculture and tourism. The pest sucks the sap from
plants and trees and produces a sticky residue called honeydew, which promotes sooty mold growth.
People moving infested materials have aided its rapid spread. Adults lay 1-inch-long egg masses in the
fall on nearly anything from tree trunks and rocks to vehicles and firewood. With no native predator, the
Spotted Lanternfly population has flourished.

For further information, please visit: Goodbye Spotted Lanternfly.

About: Arborjet | Ecologel
Arborjet | Ecologel, are leaders in plant health care, and in the development and manufacturing of innovative products
for water conservation, dust mitigation, and plant nutrition. In 2018 Ecologel Solutions partnered with Arborjet, Inc. to
offer an expanded lineup of environmentally responsible tree and plant healthcare products to broaden the expert
resources they provide. For over 20 years, Arborjet has focused on providing the most effective formulations and
delivery systems to protect trees, shrubs, and plants from a wide variety of insect, disease, and nutritional concerns.
Backed by years of research, and as premier solutions providers, Arborjet | Ecologel is committed to advancing the
industries it serves through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and
exceptional customer service.