This presentation describes how to kill an invasive or unwanted tree using herbicide. The presentation covers when you should work on the target weed tree; what technique you should use on that target weed tree (cut stump or hack-and-squirt); and what herbicide you should use;

1. How to Kill a
Tree that Is
Invasive or
Unwanted:
5 Tips
By: John Lampe
January 30, 2014

2. Don’t cut down a deciduous tree without an
herbicide treatment.
1st Tip

3. Otherwise, it will sprout making it even harder
to control.

4. Apply herbicides in:
• Late summer
• Fall
• Winter (often suitable even if cold!)
2nd Tip

5. Spring and early summer – sap flowing up, and
systemic herbicides cannot easily reach roots.

6. Late summer and fall – sap flowing down and
systemic herbicides can reach roots.

7. Use an accepted application
technique such as:
• Hack-and-squirt
• Cut stump
3rd Tip

8. Use an herbicide that works on
trees
4th Tip

9. Two good herbicides available to most
consumers in small quantities
• Glyphosate (trade names: Roundup®, Killzall®,
and others)
• Triclopyr (trade names: Garlon®, Brush b gon®
and others)

10. Read the herbicide label,
especially for % of herbicide to use.
5th Tip

11. First technique
hack-and-squirt

12. Use hatchet or machete.
Hack and
Squirt
Technique

13. Make series of cuts into live inner bark.

14. Place cuts around circumference of tree.

15. For thin barked trees, you may instead use a
wood chisel . . .

16. to make cuts around circumference of tree.

17. Make cuts about 2 to 5 inches above ground.
2 to 5 inches
Above the ground.

18. ½ to 1 inch spacing
between cuts
Make cuts about ½ to 1 inch apart.

19. Apply foam herbicide within 5 to 10 minutes of
making cuts.

20. Fill each cut with foam herbicide.

21. Avoid getting dirt onto cuts because dirt can
deactivate some herbicides.

22. To ensure root kill, don’t cut or otherwise
disturb tree for at least 6 weeks.

23. Second technique
cut stump

24. Cut stump works well for any tree that you feel
capable of cutting down.

25. Use saw for larger trees or
loppers for smaller trees.

26. Cut should leave a stump about 2 to 5 inches in
height.
2 to 5 inches
Above the ground.

27. Apply foam herbicide within 5 to 10 minutes of
making cuts.

28. Apply foam herbicide onto the phloem, the live
inner bark of the tree.

29. Avoid getting dirt onto stump face because dirt
can deactivate some herbicides.

30. Apply foam herbicide around circumference of
entire tree.

31. To ensure root kill, don’t grind out or otherwise
disturb stump for at least 6 weeks.

32. More Information
Green Shoots®: www.greenshootsonline.com
Contact: john@greenshootsonline.com
Search: green shoots foam herbicide