How to Kill "scrub" tree on fence line?

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Every year i go prune two trees on the fence line that block morning light on outer edge of garden and then the thing continues to grow like a banshee. I cannot cut with a chainsaw b/c of the fence. This year I pruned and then applied Trimex to cuts in hopes it will kill this sucker. Maybe there is a better product or method.

Last year i gave it some diesel and it licked it up and kept on trucking. Amazing when you try and baby something, trying to get it to grow and the frustration, and the things you try and kill become invincible.

I'm also low on the funds for my garden budget, so thinking about supplies on hand. I find if you don't have a budget, gardening "ideas" can be costly.

Interested in how some of you folks clear a fence line of undesireables? The beds on the fence line add "fuel" with nutrient leakage. Truthfully, I would like to yank up this old country fence that is about to fall down; it's on my bucket list for sure.

Labradors2 · May 13, 2016

Assuming that these are big trees Girdle them. Cut away some bark , low down, all the way around the trunks and they will die. Of course that's not to say that they won't sprout suckers from the base, but you'd just have to keep hacking them down until they give up......

Linda

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Everything around here seems to copice, so total root destruction preferred. I've ringed (girdle?) this dude before to no avail and the fence is growing into the tree. I'm starting to think it & the cockroaches will be here long after i'm gone.

Captain Neon · May 13, 2016

Farmers here in Minnesota will bore deep holes into the base of tree close to the ground, and saturate with Round-Up. Even after it is just a stump, they bore several more deep holes into stump and keep adding the Round-Up. Once they are convinced the tree is good and dead, they soak the stump good with lots of diesel over the course of a week, and have a nice bonfire.

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Thanks Cap, I will keep feeding this scrub until certain death.

The scrub tree is not in open area, thus not burnable nor yankable. Usually I will give it a hard tug w/ jeep, but the fence would come down too. Like the diligent approach, keep applying and bring to knees. This one particular tree has spread roots and have grown several other off shoots along the fence too.

Gardeneer · May 13, 2016

There is a simple way to kill a tree, any tree . Here is how :

Only outer layer of threes (aka sap wood ) is live and transports nutrients .
What you can do is to cut/disrupt that pipeline, by cutting a ring/collar of about inch or so wide around it (removing the bark and part of the sap wood under it. You can use a hand saw to do that.
Once you cut off the lifeline, the tree should die .

Gardeneer

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Assuming that these are big trees Girdle them. Cut away some bark , low down, all the way around the trunks and they will die. Of course that's not to say that they won't sprout suckers from the base, but you'd just have to keep hacking them down until they give up......

Linda

This is a small tree, maybe 4" circumf. but tough as nails.

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

There is a simple way to kill a tree, any tree . Here is how :

Only outer layer of threes (aka sap wood ) is live and transports nutrients .
What you can do is to cut/disrupt that pipeline, by cutting a ring/collar of about inch or so wide around it (removing the bark and part of the sap wood under it. You can use a hand saw to do that.
Once you cut off the lifeline, the tree should die .

Gardeneer

Familiar with ringing a tree out, but usually best when trees don't coppice (spread roots and formulate new sprouts) works great on pine tree.

I want to kill the scrub tree and all its siblings preferably. This is one of those trees that grows in field if you let it go a year. I don't know the type by name, but common. The more you cut, it goes in survival mode - like Rambo, taunting "you drew first blood," and then it gets messy.

Gardeneer · May 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

Familiar with ringing a tree out, but usually best when trees don't coppice (spread roots and formulate new sprouts) works great on pine tree.

I want to kill the scrub tree and all its siblings preferably. This is one of those trees that grows in field if you let it go a year. I don't know the type by name, but common. The more you cut, it goes in survival mode - like Rambo, taunting "you drew first blood," and then it gets messy.

Well, I though your concern was about shade, when you were talking about chainsaw ..etc.
Fighting the roots is a different issue.

Gardeneer

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

It is about shade and also keeping a clean fence line. Everytime a cut the tree back, it sprouts more and more and puts off other saplings. Not sure how "big" the root structure is, but know of at least 4 "knobs" where I keep having to cut back.

So maybe should re title under killing tree & roots. I put some root-x in my septic system one time, and a 50 foot sycamore had tapped into the holding tank. One small tablet down the johnny and that sycamore got sick and in two weeks the entire tree completely died. went from healthy to dead overnight. that's the kinda of poison pill I'd like to give this scrub. I have a couple others than need inoculating too.

dustdevil · May 13, 2016

Use a sawzall to cut it out of the fence. Put a hole in the middle of the stump and put copper sulfate/sulphate in the middle of the hole to fully kill it. I've done it and it works...easy to do.

creister · May 13, 2016

I bet it is a hackberry tree. They are a major pain. Look for a product called Torodon. You can buy ready to use without an applicators license. Cut it as low as you can and apply to cut or cuts. I've used it on several different pain in the butt stuff and hasn't failed me yet.

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Use a sawzall to cut it out of the fence. Put a hole in the middle of the stump and put copper sulfate/sulphate in the middle of the hole to fully kill it. I've done it and it works...easy to do.

I like that. I just used a foam brush to thickly dab on cut limbs yesterday, but think a bigger drink (grande) may be more beneficial. Got 3 days, no rain on deck - so you know that dude is going to be sucking it down.

The only "copper" stuff I got, is some fungicide spray. Don't think I have in CuSu around.

My Foot Smells · May 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by creister

I bet it is a hackberry tree. They are a major pain. Look for a product called Torodon. You can buy ready to use without an applicators license. Cut it as low as you can and apply to cut or cuts. I've used it on several different pain in the butt stuff and hasn't failed me yet.

May be right, think they call it hackleberry down here - maybe same, cuz it is a major pain. Haven't heard of Torodon, but will investigate as I am wicked slow on weed eatin chore on the fence, probably most dreaded task of all & let things go, as have about 800 yards of fence line. Definitely need something to keep in arsenal, as this problem is recurrent.

Thanks a bunch !

heirloomtomaguy · May 13, 2016

Drive copper nails into the tree. It will kill the tree before you know it.

May 13, 2016	#1
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	How to Kill "scrub" tree on fence line? Every year i go prune two trees on the fence line that block morning light on outer edge of garden and then the thing continues to grow like a banshee. I cannot cut with a chainsaw b/c of the fence. This year I pruned and then applied Trimex to cuts in hopes it will kill this sucker. Maybe there is a better product or method. Last year i gave it some diesel and it licked it up and kept on trucking. Amazing when you try and baby something, trying to get it to grow and the frustration, and the things you try and kill become invincible. I'm also low on the funds for my garden budget, so thinking about supplies on hand. I find if you don't have a budget, gardening "ideas" can be costly. Interested in how some of you folks clear a fence line of undesireables? The beds on the fence line add "fuel" with nutrient leakage. Truthfully, I would like to yank up this old country fence that is about to fall down; it's on my bucket list for sure.

May 13, 2016	#15
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Drive copper nails into the tree. It will kill the tree before you know it. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

May 13, 2016	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Assuming that these are big trees Girdle them. Cut away some bark , low down, all the way around the trunks and they will die. Of course that's not to say that they won't sprout suckers from the base, but you'd just have to keep hacking them down until they give up...... Linda

May 13, 2016	#4
Captain Neon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Florence KY Posts: 234	Farmers here in Minnesota will bore deep holes into the base of tree close to the ground, and saturate with Round-Up. Even after it is just a stump, they bore several more deep holes into stump and keep adding the Round-Up. Once they are convinced the tree is good and dead, they soak the stump good with lots of diesel over the course of a week, and have a nice bonfire.

May 13, 2016	#6
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	There is a simple way to kill a tree, any tree . Here is how : Only outer layer of threes (aka sap wood ) is live and transports nutrients . What you can do is to cut/disrupt that pipeline, by cutting a ring/collar of about inch or so wide around it (removing the bark and part of the sap wood under it. You can use a hand saw to do that. Once you cut off the lifeline, the tree should die . Gardeneer

May 13, 2016	#11
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Use a sawzall to cut it out of the fence. Put a hole in the middle of the stump and put copper sulfate/sulphate in the middle of the hole to fully kill it. I've done it and it works...easy to do.

May 13, 2016	#12
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	I bet it is a hackberry tree. They are a major pain. Look for a product called Torodon. You can buy ready to use without an applicators license. Cut it as low as you can and apply to cut or cuts. I've used it on several different pain in the butt stuff and hasn't failed me yet.