The need to remove a tree or an established stump often arises when the specimen is too close to a structure or is simply unwanted, requiring methods that avoid heavy equipment or excavation. These removal techniques focus on eliminating the tree’s root system to prevent future regrowth. The processes require patience, relying on interrupting the tree’s internal functions or starving it of resources rather than immediate physical removal. The goal is a complete kill of the entire organism, including the parts below ground.
Girdling the Trunk: Physical Interruption
Girdling is a mechanical method that interrupts the flow of nutrients within the tree trunk, effectively starving the roots. This technique involves removing a complete, continuous ring of the outer bark and underlying tissue layers around the entire circumference of the tree. The phloem, located just beneath the bark, transports sugars created during photosynthesis from the leaves down to the roots.
To perform a proper girdle, two parallel cuts must completely encircle the trunk, separated by several inches of vertical space. The entire section of bark and cambium between these cuts must be cleanly removed down to the sapwood, which contains the xylem. Severing the phloem halts the flow of carbohydrates to the roots, but the water-conducting xylem remains intact, allowing the canopy to survive temporarily.
The roots slowly deplete their stored energy reserves, which can take several years before the entire root system finally dies. This slow death is a trade-off for the simplicity of the technique, requiring minimal tools and no chemical application. The best time for girdling is often in the spring or summer, after the initial flush of growth, when the tree’s stored resources are most depleted.
Targeted Chemical Application via Wounds
A faster method for killing a standing tree or stump is the targeted application of systemic herbicides into the tree’s vascular system. This approach is effective because it introduces the chemical directly into the plant’s internal transport pathways, ensuring it is carried down to the roots. The “hack and squirt” method involves using a hatchet or similar tool to make downward-angled incisions through the bark and into the sapwood.
These incisions, often spaced one per inch of the tree’s diameter around the circumference, create small cups to hold the herbicide solution. The herbicide must be applied immediately to the fresh wound to maximize absorption before the tree begins to seal the cut. Systemic herbicides, such as concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr solutions, are commonly used because they are translocated throughout the plant, moving with the sugars to the root system.
For a fresh stump, the herbicide is applied in a narrow band around the cambium layer, the ring of living tissue just inside the bark. The most effective time for application is generally from mid-summer through early winter, or immediately after a fresh cut, as this coincides with the downward movement of nutrients toward the roots. This localized application minimizes the risk of harm to surrounding vegetation compared to broadcast spraying.
Eliminating Regrowth Through Smothering
Smothering is a non-chemical method used to kill remaining stumps or small brush by depriving them of the resources needed for survival. This technique relies on blocking all light, which prevents photosynthesis from creating the energy required to sustain the root system. The stump must first be cut as close to the ground as possible to maximize the smothering process’s effectiveness.
A heavy, opaque material, such as thick black plastic sheeting or a dark tarp, is secured tightly over the entire stump and the immediate surrounding root zone. This covering should be weighed down with bricks, rocks, or a thick layer of mulch to ensure no light penetrates and to inhibit new shoots from emerging. The combination of light deprivation and increased heat starves the root system and accelerates natural decomposition.
This method is slow, often requiring six months to over a year for the stump to completely die and the wood to become soft and crumbly. While requiring patience, it is a low-cost, chemical-free option that ensures new sprouts are inhibited from receiving sunlight, transferring stored energy to decay organisms instead.
Legal Restrictions and Safe Handling
Before attempting any removal, check for local ordinances, Homeowners Association (HOA) rules, or municipal codes that govern tree removal. Many jurisdictions require permits for removing trees of a certain size or may protect specific species; violating these regulations can result in fines. If chemical methods are chosen, strict regulations often apply to the use of herbicides, particularly near water sources like streams, wetlands, or public drinking water supplies.
When applying systemic herbicides, proper safety precautions must be followed, starting with reading and adhering to all instructions on the product label. Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as chemical-resistant gloves, protective eyewear, and long sleeves, is necessary to prevent skin and eye exposure. Care must be taken during application to avoid spillage or runoff, which could contaminate the soil or water.
A significant risk with chemical application is the potential for the herbicide to move to neighboring, desirable plants through root grafting, where the root systems of two trees have naturally fused. To prevent this, avoid spraying suckers growing from rootstocks and avoid over-applying the chemical, which could lead to absorption by the roots of nearby plants. All unused chemicals and empty containers must be stored and disposed of according to local and federal guidelines to ensure environmental safety.