To kill a tree

[Walter R.]

I cut down several medium sized eucalyptus trees. They keep regrowing from shoots from the stump at a very rapid clip (10 feet in 6 months).

In the old days we would buy a few sticks of dynamite at the friendly hardware store, but the stuff is hard to come by these days. How can I kill them so they will stay dead?

[Stephen Henning]

I had this problem with a black walnut tree. So the next time I needed to get rid of black walnut trees, I girdled them. To my amazement they took about 4 years to die. They looked normal for three years and the

4th year the leaves started to come out in the spring and then they died. I don't have any suckers coming up. Imagine if I had not done that and all that energy had gone into suckers. It could have lasted forever.

And, yes I had girdled them deep enough. I went through the bark, through the cambium layer and into the phloem and removed part of that.

For those trees that are still sending up shoots. I would apply concentrated roundup to the shoots. Cut off any part of the shoots you can't apply roundup to. It may take several applications.

[raycruzer]

Although black walnut trees are protected in my area (California), I have resorted to Roundup in defending against invasions of the tree of heaven. This invasive tree can grow a foot a month and can spread like wildfire.

I have also sprayed Roundup in the girdled cuts deep into the bark. I have noticed, however, that spraying directly on leaves is the quickest way to get the Roundup to work. It may take several weeks to see the effects, especially if the leaves are beyond your reach. After several months, all the leaves will yellow, brown, fall and die. The dead tree will gradually collapse after a couple of years.

Normally I stay away from herbicides, but my trusty weed twister is no match for the tree of heaven, especially when it's already several feet tall.

We also have eucalyptus trees near our homes in my area, but, although they can be a nuisance, I don't think anyone has tried to use a chemical solution so far.

Best of luck with your eucalyptus tree problem. I'd be curious to know if Roundup (or other chemicals) works on them.

______ EWIRM: Nature makes trees, humans make weeds!

Stephen Henn>

[Arborsmith]

Chemicals are not necessary if you just have a little diligence. New sprouts just need to be removed after they push up a few feet, cut them all off completely do this a few times and most trees will die. You can also put down a piece of old carpet after cutting off the first load of sprouts. Once the tree depletes is food reserve in the root it will die.

Richard

[Curious]

Drill holes in the stump and pour Roundup or a brush killer at 100% concentration in the drilled holes. That should take care of it.