5 Best Ways for How to Kill a Tree
#1 Hack and Squirt
#2 Tree Girdling
#3 Roundup
#4 Salt
#5 Spraying Leaves
Chemicals to Use:
The main chemicals used for killing
trees are Epson Salt, Hi-Yield Kill-Zall and Roundup which have the same active
ingredient, and Fertilome Brush & Stump Killer which is used for killing
trees by spraying the leaves.
#1 Hack and Squirt:
This is a super fast way to kill
smaller trees. You simply use a hatchet to cut into the bark and spray with
50/50 roundup concentrate. This is a good method if you have a lot of small
trees you need to thin out of a forest. It's not very practical if you live in
the city unless you don’t mind a dying tree in your yard for several months.
#2 Tree Girdling:
You could be old school and use an
antique hand saw or just use a generator and reciprocating saw. Cut a 1” slice
out of the bark and first layer of the tree all the way around. Then chop it
out with a hatchet. This will cut off the water supply to the tree and it will
die. I would only use this method if you live in the boonies are wanting to
harvest the tree later for firewood once it is dead and dry.
#3 How to Kill a Tree with Roundup:
This is the best way to kill a tree
in your yard. Cut your tree down with a chainsaw. I love my 460 Rancher. In the
lighter outer ring of the tree drill holes and then fill the holes with 50/50
Roundup. Killing the tree like this will kill the tree stump and all the roots
completely. Just cutting down most trees isn’t enough for them to die. This
will avert any shoots coming up from the stump or roots.
#4 How to Kill Tree with Salt:
This works well especially if you
don’t like using chemicals. It works much the same as using roundup. First, cut
the tree down and then drill holes all the way around in the lighter outer ring
of the tree. Fill the holes with Epsom salt. This should kill the tree. This
is also a good way to remove tree stumps.
#5 Kill Tree by Spraying Leaves:
I always have a bunch of little trees popping
up in my yard like weeds. Using Fertilome Brush & Stump Killer works well
these. Mix 4 to 8 ounces into 1 gallon of water. Screw the top on and pump and
Shake to mix well. Spray the leaves thoroughly. You can see that I have a bunch
of trees that I can quickly kill this way.
