Systemics: foliar vs drench?

Horticulture
1

When applying a systemic like Safari to junipers for scale, and where the product specifies both foliar and drench options/dilutions, do we bias towards one or the other as more effective?

My reasoning is that going nuclear with a drench would be the surest bet for getting the critters under control, but that a foliar application might be friendlier to the plant and potentially as effective? I assume a foliar application would absorb through the foliage and act locally (as opposed to having a direct contact action on the insects).

How do you guys approach this or think about it?

2

For insecticide/miticides, I’d favor foliage sprays as a faster mechanism for systemics that have translaminar effects (can move through the leaf). Safari (Dinotefuran) is in that class. I’d use soil drenches for longer term control. But I have never used Dinotefuran as a liquid, only as a granular. Also keep the mode of action in mind and alternate between different modes of action to avoid building resistance.

Cheers