Killing Unwanted Trees | 5 Easy Ways to Kill Nuisance Trees
Killing unwanted trees can be more difficult than you may imagine. You may have a nuisance tree near your home or power lines that you want to remove. Simply lobbing it off at the base of the trunk may not be the best solution. Most tree species are very hardy and will find a way to survive despite your attempts to destroy them. At the very least, the root system may continue to live causing an additional headache.
5 Easy Methods for Killing Unwanted Trees
Killing unwanted trees can easily be accomplished by properly applying one of these common chemicals: Epsom Salt, Hi-Yield Killzall, Roundup or Ferti-Lome Brush & Stump Killer. The key word here is “properly applying.” Follow the steps below or watch the video so learn the best method for killing unwanted trees in your yard.
Method 1: Hack & Squirt
This method is fast and easy for smaller trees. Fill a spray bottle with 50/50 Roundup Pro Concentrate. Use a hatchet or small axe to break through the bark and the outer bands of the trunk. With the hatchet in place, liberally spray the topside of the axe with the chemical solution as you pry the bark away from the tree. The downside with this method is the tree will die a slow death. Meaning it will be an eyesore in your yard for several months.
Method 2: Tree Girdling
Use a reciprocating hand saw or a bow saw to make 2 cuts spaced 1” apart, a full 360 degrees around the perimeter of the trunk. Then use a hatchet or prybar to remove the 1” wide strip of bark. Again, make sure you go the full 360 degrees around the tree trunk. This method cuts off the water supply to the upper portion of the tree. It will take some time for the tree to fully die-off, but it could make for good source of firewood for the following season. The caveat here, is don’t use this method for a tree situated near your home or fence. Left unattended, it will eventually fall over on its own.
Method 3: Killing Unwanted Trees with Roundup
In this scenario you will chop the tree down right away with a chain saw or bow saw. Then drill a series of ½” diameter holes in the lighter colored outer rings of the tree trunk. Fill the holes with 50/50 Roundup Pro Concentrate. The use of Roundup will also kill the tree roots and fend off any shoots that may otherwise reappear from the remaining stump or roots of the tree.
Method 4: Killing Unwanted Trees with Epsom Salt
If you are looking for an Eco-Friendly method for killing unwanted trees, Epsom Salt is the answer. Cut the tree down using a chain saw or bow saw. Then, just like method 3 above, drill a series of holes located in the lighter colored outer bands of the trunk of the tree. Fill the holes entirely with Epsom Salts. You can also use this method to kill off tree stumps for easy removal at a later date.
Method 5: Spraying Tree Leaves
You may notice some small trees sprouting up around the perimeter of your home or in your garden. Mix 4 to 8 ounces of Ferti-Lome Brush & Stump Killer with one gallon of water in a garden sprayer. Spray the tree leaves to the point that they are fully saturated with the solution. Of course, this method will only work on seedlings or tiny, young trees. The kind that pop-up in your garden on their own. It’s still a good method for killing unwanted trees before they take over.
