Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz and by How.com.vn staff writer, Eric McClure. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
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Trees are great as long as they aren’t in the way, but they can become a nuisance if they’re at risk of damaging your property. While you can always pay a professional crew to show up and cut the tree down for you, why not save some cash and kill the tree yourself? In this article, we’ll break down all of the options you have when it comes to putting an end to a tree’s growth and killing it.
Things You Should Know
- Girdle the tree by carving a ring of bark out of it. This will stop growth and allow the tree to die out naturally.
- Kill the tree quickly with chemicals. Use a specialized basal bark treatment, or coat the roots repeatedly in glysophate.
- If you have a smaller tree, just cut it down yourself. Alternatively, you can keep cutting the leaves off and wait for the tree to perish.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionIs it bad to water a tree by spraying the whole tree down all the time?
Lauren KurtzLauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Professional GardenerIt is more effective to water the tree near the roots. This is where the tree will absorb the water. - QuestionAre there any other substances we can apply after cutting the tree in case we don't have herbicide?
NinoxTop AnswererYou can use Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) or rock salt (sodium chloride). You can also benzine and burn the trunk. - QuestionHow do I kill the roots of a tree that I previously cut down?
Community AnswerFollow the steps as shown above. Be careful of re-girdling the stump though, it's an easy way to cut yourself.
Video
Tips
- There’s an old wives’ tale that driving a piece of copper into a tree trunk will cause it to die over time. That won’t actually work, though. In fact, trees love copper.[12]Thanks
- Dead trees are much more likely to fall after the dead root system has weakened. Even if the invasive root system is no longer a problem, get the tree removed if there’s a risk it wall fall into your home or on somebody.[13]Thanks
- Whether you treat the stump or cut down the tree after it is dead, you may still want to remove the stump as well.[14]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf99242809/pdf99242809pt01.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/basal-bark-herbicidal-treatment
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/use-glyphosate-with-care-near-trees
- ↑ https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/who-iarc-glyphosate/
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/kill-diseased-trees-by-using-chemicals
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/02/10/dc-poisoned-heritage-trees/
- ↑ https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Kill-a-Tree_poster.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-kill-tree-stumps/
- ↑ https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Kill-a-Tree_poster.pdf
About This Article
If you want to kill a tree with a pesticide spray, mix the pesticide ahead of time and then chop down with an axe to make a 2” deep cut into the tree. Next, spread the wound open and spray the pesticide into the cut. Repeat that process a few times on different sides of the tree, based on the directions for your pesticide. Using this method, the tree should die in as little as 6 weeks. Read more to learn how to kill a tree by girdling it or chopping it down.
Reader Success Stories
"Where to put the specific solution on the tree trunk to help make sure it will die. Checking this will help, and perhaps adding more as time allows will guarantee the progress of the chore."..." more
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