Learn how to kill a tree safely and effectively to eliminate invasive, unsightly, or improperly placed trees.
Perhaps a previous homeowner planted a tree too close to the foundation.
Maybe unwanted tree seedlings have popped up in inconvenient places around your yard.
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Maybe someone unknowingly planted a tree that’s considered invasive in your area.
Or, perhaps you’ve got a tree that triggers your or a loved one’s allergies.
Is itmessy or invasive?
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Does the tree lean dangerously and threaten to topple over on people or property?
Are too many trees planted in close proximity and restricting healthy growth?
Knowing these details can help you avoid similar mistakes in the future.
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Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever you work outdoors.
Safety glasses andgardening glovesare usually enough for simple tasks like digging and pruning.
Arboricide (a.k.a., the killing of trees) often involves the use of heavy machinery or chemicals.
Always follow manufacturers recommendations and instructions when you use equipment or chemicals.
Make a practice of removing unwanted seedlings to ensure you don’t end up with harder-to-remove saplings.
Frequent mowing can help prevent tree seedlings from taking root and growing in your lawn.
To make the process easier, water the soil before digging to help loosen the roots.
Try Girdling or Frilling
Girdlingis a traditional method of killing a tree without cutting it downbutit can happen naturallytoo.
Manual girdling involves cutting a ring completely around the tree through the bark and the cambium with a saw.
The cambium is the thin layer of cells under the bark that moves water and nutrients throughout the tree.
Cut two parallel rings a few inches apart or one ring 2-3 inches wide around the tree.
Usually, 1/2-1 inch is deep enough to girdle the tree successfully.
Another option isfrilling, which involves a ring of downward-facing cuts with an ax or hatchet around the tree.
Severing the cambium is often enough to kill the tree.
This herbicide moves into the trees roots, stopping further growth.
One benefit of girdling and frilling is that it leaves dead trees standing.
When safely located away from any people or property, these trees become a habitat fornesting wildlife.
After a dead tree dries for a year, the wood can be cut down and used as firewood.
In this case, the best option for how to kill a tree may be to cut it down.
A modest-sized trees trunk, branches, and leaves can weigh hundreds or thousands of pounds.
An ISA-certifiedarborist or reputable professional tree care servicehas the experience and equipment to handle the job safely.
Professional arborists can sometimes safely drop a large tree straight to the ground.
Contact several reputable tree care services for quotes and to discuss options.
Always see to it that your tree care services are insured.
Your homeowners insurance will not likely cover contractors.
Get multiple quotes to compare cost and work expertise, and ask if stump removal and cleanup are included.
Sharp tools cut better and are safer to use than dull tools.
Decompose Naturally
If you let nature do the job, the decomposition process can take many years.
There are, however, products available to speed things up.
Visit your local home and garden store to see what is available.
Orincorporate the stumpinto your garden design as a pedestal for planters.
You could even hollow the stump out and turn it into a planter.
Prevent Resprouting
Be aware that stump grinding is a dangerous job often best left to the professionals.
To stop the stump from resprouting, apply an herbicide labeled for stump.
The chemical is then absorbed into the trees roots, killing them and halting growth.
Working with Chemicals
Many herbicides are labeled to kill trees and woody brush.
This involves spraying trees at the base of the trunk with an oil-soluble herbicide.
It works best on young trees and trees with thin barkbut dont expect immediate results.
Basal bark treatments can take weeks or months to be effective.
Be careful when applying herbicide to prevent runoff from affecting nearby plants or water sources.
It may even stimulate hundreds of suckers to grow from the roots.
In this instance, the hack and squirt method is often recommended.
This statement meansusing or applying the chemical in any way not noted on the label is against the law.
The laws are designed to protect both you and the environment when the chemical is used.
Sometimes, products with the same active ingredient but different product names each have different labels.
Do your research to avoid unknowingly breaking the law.
It is better to be safe than sorry.
Dead trees, standing or lying on the ground, are a necessary part of a healthy ecosystem.
When dealing with a dead tree, remember that not all wood is safe for burning in a fireplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Possibly.
This is especially true of non-residential, street-side, or otherwise public-facing trees.
If your tree is leaning and threatening to fall or damage property, don’t wait to address it.
However, if your tree is not imminently hazardous, wait until the dormant season.
Arborists and garden experts recommend a new planting siteespecially if your old tree suffered issues with pests and diseases.
Look for a location at least 3 to 8 feet from the previous planting site.
This will allow the soil to replenish itself and allow any leftover roots or debris to decay.
