Method of pesticide treatment of soil adjacent structures

Abstract

A method of treating soil adjacent a structure generally includes positioning a base unit of a treatment apparatus at a location adjacent the structure. An application tool is positioned over a first injection site. The application tool includes at least one nozzle. The base unit is operated to supply pressurized treatment liquid to the application tool. The application tool is operated to inject the pressurized treatment liquid into the soil at the first injection site without prior disturbance of the soil. The application tool is moved to a second injection site and operated to inject pressurized treatment liquid into the soil at the second injection site without prior disturbance of the soil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating soil adjacent a structure, said method comprising:
 positioning a base unit of a treatment apparatus at a stationary location relative to the structure;   positioning an application tool of the treatment apparatus over a first injection site generally adjacent the structure, the application tool including at least one nozzle;   operating the base unit to supply pressurized treatment liquid from a source of treatment liquid to the application tool;   operating the application tool to deliver pressurized treatment liquid through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said first injection site without prior disturbance of the soil at said first injection site;   moving the application tool relative to the base unit to a position over a second injection site at least in part different from said first injection site and generally adjacent the structure; and   operating the application tool to deliver additional pressurized treatment liquid through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said second injection site without prior disturbance of the soil at said second injection site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising moving the base unit relative to the structure to another location;
 moving the application tool relative to the base unit to a position over a third injection site at least in part different from said first and second injection sites and generally adjacent the structure; and 
 operating the application tool to deliver additional pressurized treatment liquid through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said third injection site without prior disturbance of the soil at said second injection site. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising carrying the source of treatment liquid in a container wherein the container is transported separately from the base unit and is in fluid connection with at least one of the base unit and the application tool. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the container is transported separately from the base unit and is only in fluid connection with the application tool. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the container is transported on the application tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the container contains a supply of concentrated treatment fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein operating the base unit to supply pressurized treatment liquid to the application tool comprises operating the base unit to supply pressurized water to the application tool. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising mixing the concentrated treatment fluid from the container with the pressurized water using a mixing device to form a pressurized treatment solution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising carrying the mixing device on the application tool. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pressurized treatment solution is a termiticide solution. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising visibly marking the location of the first injection site, said marking step being performed one of concurrently with and after operating the application tool to deliver the pressurized treatment liquid through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said first injection site. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one nozzle of the application tool includes a plurality of nozzles, the application tool further including a contact plate having a matrix of openings arranged such that at least two of the openings are spaced from each other both longitudinally and transversely with respect to the contact plate, each opening being aligned with one of the respective nozzles. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating soil adjacent a structure, the method comprising:
 positioning a base unit of a treatment apparatus at a stationary location relative to the structure;   positioning an application tool of the treatment apparatus over a first injection site generally adjacent the structure, the application tool including a reservoir of a treatment substance, a mixing device, and at least one nozzle;   operating the base unit to supply pressurized liquid to the application tool;   mixing the pressurized liquid with the treatment substance using the mixing device to form a pressurized treatment solution; and   operating the application tool to deliver the pressurized treatment solution through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said first injection site without prior disturbance of the soil at the first injection site.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the treatment substance comprises a concentrated treatment fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the pressurized treatment solution is a termiticide solution. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising moving the application tool relative to the base unit to a position over a second injection site at least in part different from the first injection site and generally adjacent the structure; and
 operating the application tool to deliver additional pressurized treatment solution through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at the second injection site without prior disturbance of the soil at the second injection site. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising moving the base unit relative to the structure to another location;
 moving the application tool relative to the base unit to a position over a third injection site at least in part different from said first and second injection sites and generally adjacent the structure; and 
 operating the application tool to deliver additional pressurized treatment solution through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said third injection site without prior disturbance of the soil at said second injection site. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein operating the base unit to supply pressurized liquid to the application tool comprises operating the base unit to supply pressurized water to the application tool. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising visibly marking the location of the first injection site, said marking step being performed one of concurrently with and after operating the application tool to deliver the pressurized treatment solution through the at least one nozzle for injection down into the soil at said first injection site. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one nozzle of the application tool includes a plurality of nozzles, the application tool further including a contact plate having a matrix of openings arranged such that at least two of the openings are spaced from each other both longitudinally and transversely with respect to the contact plate, each opening aligned with one of the respective nozzles.