You may have many reasons for wanting to remove a tree from your property; for example, it could be invasive, it could spoil your eyesight, or you just want to plant something else in its place. Professional intervention is very expensive, but there are several methods of killing a tree and removing it once it is dead.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove Part of the Bark
Step 1. Remove the loose bark
This method involves the removal of part of the outer covering of the tree along the entire circumference of the trunk to interrupt the flow of sap from the roots to the canopy. You can use this technique in conjunction with herbicides to speed up the process. This is the most common solution to killing a tree without the use of poisons when chemicals cannot be used, but it takes many months. Start by tearing off the bark fragments that have already been moved to have better access to the trunk; you should peel off a band about 10-12 cm wide.
There is no precise rule regarding the specific area in which to remove the bark, so choose a height from the roots that allows you to work comfortably
Step 2. Put on the protectors
To practice the cuts you have several techniques available; you can use a power saw, ax, hatchet or even a wood chisel (if the bark is very thin). Take precautions when using sharp tools and don't forget safety glasses.
Step 3. Make an incision around the circumference of the tree
The depth depends on the thickness of the trunk; if the plant is rather thin, a cut of 1-2 cm in the wood may suffice, while for larger trees it should be necessary to make the blade penetrate up to 3-4 cm. Try to remove a strip of bark as parallel to the ground as possible.
Step 4. Make another cut around the circumference
This method is effective when you make two cuts about 5-10 cm apart from each other; make the second as deep as the first.
If you have decided to use an ax or hatchet, it may be more difficult to make a perfectly horizontal incision, in which case you can make a notch in the trunk. To achieve this, hit the tree with a diagonal movement from top to bottom followed by a bottom-up stroke, maintaining the same angle; the two cuts should meet in the center. If the tree is small, this kind of incision should be no wider than 5 cm; if the trunk is quite massive, you need to make a cut of 15-20 cm. Make sure the notch has a similar depth to what you would have obtained by creating the two strips
Step 5. Apply a herbicide
If you decide to use it, you need to smear it into the cut within 5-10 minutes so that it can penetrate before the "wound" starts to dry and harden. Adding this substance reduces the time, as it allows the tree to be killed in six weeks instead of several months.
- Commonly used herbicides include glyphosate and triclopyr;
- Mix the chemical according to package directions and apply it to the cut using a spray bottle;
- You should prepare the poison in advance to be able to spray it on the exposed part of the trunk as soon as possible.
Step 6. Wait
Once the circulation of the sap has been interrupted and possibly the herbicide has been introduced into the root system, you just have to wait for the tree to die.
Method 2 of 3: Engrave the Tree and Apply Herbicide
Step 1. Get an ax or hatchet
If you plan to use a herbicide, this method is as effective as the one described above and also involves less work. You need to make less precise incisions to apply the chemical to instead of peeling off a circular band of bark. To get started, get a cutting tool such as a hatchet or ax.
Step 2. Mix the herbicide in a spray bottle
You have to make fewer cuts than the technique recommended in the first section of the article, but you still have to apply the same poison; mix the product in a spray bottle before you start engraving.
Effective and commonly used herbicides are glyphosate and triclopyr
Step 3. Make a downward sloping cut
Use an ax or similar tool to carve the log about 5 cm. You need to reach deep enough for the light colored sap to come out of the tree so that you can apply the herbicide effectively.
Step 4. Spray the substance into the cut
Once you have opened a "wound" in the trunk, pull the ax towards the edge of the cut instead of pulling it out completely; then apply the product on the upper part of the blade, so that it flows and penetrates deeply to the sapwood.
- Remember to apply the herbicide immediately, before the soft wood of the incision can dry out and harden;
- You should find instructions regarding dosages on the packaging of the specific substance you bought, although 1-2ml typically applies;
- If you have to treat several trees, know that there are products that are sold with special injectors.
Step 5. Repeat the procedure according to the directions of the herbicide
The package should list the number of cuts you need to make based on the diameter of the tree. In most cases, you will need to make a few incisions along the entire circumference of the trunk, taking care to space them 2-7 cm from each other.
Step 6. Continue adding herbicide to each cut
Add the same dose for all incisions that are suggested by the product instructions; keep using the injector or the ax blade to get the substance inside.
Method 3 of 3: Cut the Tree and Manage the Stump
Step 1. Take all safety measures
Unlike the other methods that involve leaving the tree vertically, with this technique it is instead cut down; this solution is best when the trunk obstructs the view or needs to be eliminated immediately. Since you have to cut the log, the first step is to take all necessary precautions to use the power saw and secure the fall area.
Step 2. Blend the herbicide
As with any other chemical technique, you must apply glyphosate or triclopyr to the incision as soon as the trunk is cut down; for this reason, prepare it in advance before cutting.
Step 3. Cut the tree
If it is a small specimen, the drop area is less large and the work is easier; however, if the plant is large, you need to proceed with more caution. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this in this article.
Consider hiring a specialist company if the tree is large
Step 4. Apply a layer of herbicide to the top of the stump
Many people do not realize that cutting the trunk does not kill the root system, but often new shoots develop from the roots; however, by smearing a chemical on the sapwood, you can also treat the strain and prevent it from growing.
For small trees you can simply smear the newly exposed section of the trunk; for larger ones that have a hardened core that does not absorb the herbicide, just apply the substance on the outer edge, along the band where the sapwood has a lighter color
Advice
- Other methods, such as extreme pruning, can lead to results similar to those of completely trimming the tree by neglecting the stump - in other words, the root system can grow new shoots.
- Dead trees are much more likely to fall once the root system has weakened; even if invasive roots are no longer a problem, you still have to remove the plant for safety reasons.
- Whether you are treating the stump or cutting down a tree after it has died, you still need to get rid of the root system; you can find more information in this article.
