Dominion 2L Termiticide - Questions & Answers

Yes, Dominion 2L Termiticide Concentrate will treat to Emerald Ash Borers. Treatments should begin in May or June, and should be done every year to protect trees from the Emerald Ash Borers. Most people us a 5 gallon bucket or a large watering can to apply Dominion as a soil drench. 

You would drill into the same location where the slab was previously treated and spray the termiticide into the holes. If you don't already have a product in mind to use, Dominion 2L is an economical product that will last for at least 7 years, and Taurus SC will last for at least 10 years. 

When using Dominion 2L Termiticide Concentrate for a soil drench, you typically start drenching about 12 inches from the base of the tree and out to the drip line. In Texas, you will apply this product as a soil drench before the pollen has shed around mid April. You can contact your local cooperative extension for specific timing.

Dominion 2L should be applied yearly for emerald ash borer control.  It is typically applied around May or June, but it would be a good idea to contact your local cooperative extension office to find out the best timing for your specific area.  

 

We would recommend using Domnion 2L. It is labeled for use on trees for emerald ash borers as a preventative and a curative. This only needs to be done once a year. The mixing ratio is 0.1 to 0.2 fl oz per inch of the trunk diameter. This needs to be mixed in at least 5 gallons of water and poured around the roots of the tree. 

 

For ant control, Dominion 2L can just be applied around the perimeter of the home and on the ground around the home since ants walk on top of the ground.  For termite control, you must dig a trench and treat into the ground as outlined in our "How To Do A Termite Treatment" article because termites enter the home from underground.

You could definitely use a hose end sprayer for a pre-treat application if you have nothing larger to use.  Some of our customers also use a 5 gallon bucket and pour the 5 gallons over 50 square foot sections which will be much faster than using a hand pump sprayer which comes out slowly.  It is very important to apply more around the perimeter edges of the slab, around plumbing pipes that will come through the slab, and along expansion joints if you know where they will be.  Since these are the more likely entry points of termites you want to make sure you treat more heavily around these areas.  You should take general precautions when applying any product which would be to wear gloves, protect your eyes if it is windy, and treat only in the designated area where your slab will be poured.

Dominion 2L is a top of the line termite protection product.  However, the best protection anyone can do for  their home is a dual treatment, meaning liquid and bait.  You already performed the liquid treatment.  The best termite baiting system we sell and the most widely used baiting system by professional companies is the Advance Termite Baiting System.  Termite baiting systems show you where termites are around your home before they try to gain entry.  We have a video on the Advance baiting system page showing how easy it is to install.  As always, we are always here to answer any questions.

Dominion 2L is a great treatment for subterranean termites, but its main purpose is to treat for termites in the ground.  Dominion 2L does not penetrate through wood because it is not made for this purpose.  Since termites eat from the middle of the wood, the only way Dominion 2L would work is if you drilled holes into the display wood structure and injected Dominion 2L exactly where the termites were.  We do sell wood treatment products that will penetrate through the wood by just spraying on the surface, but they will only work on raw, untreated wood.  The wood treatment products would not work on wood that has been painted, stained, or sealed.  Bora-Care is the name of the wood treatment product if you wanted to go that route.

Dominion 2L contains Imidacloprid which could indeed be harmful to honey bees. According to the Dominion 2L product label ,"This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area."

You may want to consider using ant bait in a bait station such as the Ant No More Bait Station which can be placed around the base of the infested trees. By placing the bait into the station you will be protecting it from the elements. Ant No More allows you to add two of your own favorite liquid, gel, or granular ant baits. The choice of two different baits ensures greater attraction for all kinds of ants.

Dominion is a non-repellent, which means you should not mix it with another product or it will not work properly.  Since Dominion is much more effective on ants and cannot be applied over anything else, you should apply the Dominion first and wait about 3 to 4 weeks until all ant activity is gone, and then apply Suspend for everything else including the spiders.  Only apply the Dominion again when ants are present in the area.

You should not apply any termiticide, including Dominion when it is below freezing temperatures because the soil does not soak up product as well if it is below freezing.  You should apply when the temperatures are above freezing.  It is OK if the water is 35 degrees, that is not a problem.

You really only need to be concerned about the wood.  So this means you should only trench and treat around the poles in the ground.  You do not have to trench around the tin if there is no other wood in close proximity. Please see our Termite Treatment Article.

You should take care not to use Dominion 2L within the root-zone or drip-line of the tomato plants because any plant that absorbs the Dominion 2L will need to be discarded. Dominion 2L is a systemic product and will be trans-located throughout plants if it is absorbed by the roots.

You have to drill into the cinder block.  But not every block, you should drill two holes per block, one hold per void, in one line around the perimeter of the basement or at least wherever you have exposed block.  Typically you go up about 12 to 18 inches, and drill that block all the way around.  You should spray 2 gallons per 10 feet into the block. 

There probably is more holes to drill this way, but it will go much faster.  It is much easier to drill through the thin wall of the block rather than the thick concrete slab.  You could probably drill 10 to 15 holes in the same time it would take you to drill one single hole through the slab of the basement.  Also, the problem with drilling through the slab is that the termites are probably entering the block from much deeper under the soil then the slab level, so if you only treated the slab it would probably not contact the termites and not work.  Only drilling into the block, where they are, will guarantee you will take care of the issue. 

Dominion 2L cannot be applied to potted or containerized plants. You could apply this to hibiscus if they were in the soil outdoors only. Honey bees could potentially be affected by the active ingredient if applied while the plants are in bloom.

Unfortunately you are correct. The stronger solution killed the termites very quickly preventing them from going back to the colony.

You can use Dominion 2L to treat trees and shrubs for whitefly. Most people use a 5 gallon bucket or a large watering can to apply Dominion as a soil drench. You will need 0.1 to 0.2 fl. oz. (3 to 6 mL) of Dominion per foot of shrub height or 0.1 to 0.2 fl oz per inch of trunk diameter for trees. The amount of water that is used will vary depending on soil conditions and volumes that are easy for applicators to use. The minimum amount of water that should be used is 1 pint per foot of shrub height (or inch of trunk diameter for trees) but you may use 1 quart -1 gallon of water per foot of height (or inch of trunk diameter for trees) as well. Denser soils such as clay do not accept water as readily, so the lower volume of water is suggested.  Since sandy soils can accept more water, using the higher volume of water is preferred. After the soil drench has been applied you should water it in with at east 1/2 inch of water. Note: Water simply acts as a carrier and it is important that even distribution of the product is achieved. Thus, more water may be used if the applicator feels runoff will not occur and proper penetration of the root zone is achieved. Insecticides applied to the soil are taken up by the roots and translocated throughout the tree or shrub. Root/soil drenches offer the advantage of requiring no special equipment to apply (other than a bucket or watering can). However, surface layers of organic matter, such as mulch or leaf litter, can bind the insecticide and reduce uptake. Before applying drenches, it is important to remove or pull back any mulch or dead leaves so the insecticide solution is poured directly on the mineral soil. It is also important to keep the soil around the tree or shrub moist for the next 7-10 days after applications to encourage uptake. We also recommend using a product with an active ingredient that is different than the soil drench for a foliage application while you are waiting for the Dominion to translocate through the ficus. Talstar P is the most popular choice for foliage application on ficus for white fly.

It is not necessary to purchase another sprayer. Dominion 2L can be put into the "insecticide" sprayer as long as you thoroughly clean the sprayer.

Although the Advance Bait System is a great way to monitor your yard for activity of termites, if you treat the new wood with Boracare and do the trench treatment with Dominion, it is not necessary. Some homeowners feel better after doing the treatment having something to physically check, but as long as you have done the trench treatment properly, your home will be protected for the next 7 years. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.