Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Girdle the tree
• Method 2 of 3: The chop-and-spray method
• Method 3 of 3: Remove the tree and treat the stump
• Tips

Whether a tree is invasive, ruining the view, or you simply want to plant something else in its place - there are many reasons why you may want to remove a tree from your property. It is often too expensive to have the tree removed professionally. However, there are many ways in which you can kill the tree yourself so that you can then remove the dead tree itself.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Girdle the tree

1. Remove any loose bark. Girdling is a way to kill a tree by interrupting the flow of sap between the roots and the crown of the tree. You can girdle a tree with or without herbicides to speed up the process. Girdling is the easiest and most popular way to kill a tree without chemicals when no herbicides are used, but it will take many months for the tree to die from this process. Start by pulling out loose bark to give you better access to the trunk. You need to remove a strip of bark about 10-13 cm wide.
   • The height at which you strap the tree is flexible, so choose a level that makes it easy to work around the trunk and make cuts.
2. Wear safety clothes. There are many options for making the cuts. You can opt for a chainsaw, an ax, or even a wood chisel for trees with very thick bark. Take proper safety precautions for the cutting tool you prefer, including eye protection.
3. Make an incision around the perimeter of the tree. The depth of the cut depends on the thickness of the tree. For very thin trees, 1.5 cm may be sufficient, but sturdy trees may require a 2.5 - 4 cm cut. Try to make the strip as even as possible as you move around the tree.
4. Make a second cut around the perimeter of the tree. To girdle a tree effectively you need to make a second cut. The distance between both cuts should be about 5-10 cm. Make a second cut to the same depth as the first.
   • Using an ax will make it more difficult to make the correct horizontal cuts. In that case, it is possible to cut a groove in the tree instead. To make the groove, make a downward angle cut, followed by an upward angle cut where both cuts meet in the center. For small trees, this groove may be about 5 cm wide around the circumference, but for larger trees the groove may be between 15 - 20 cm wide. Make a groove at the same depth as you had to choose the strips.
5. Use a herbicide. If you choose to use an herbicide, apply it to the cuts within five or ten minutes of making the cuts or before the areas start to dry and harden. Using a herbicide can cause a tree to die after at least six weeks, while not using chemicals can take many months.
   • Widely available and effective herbicides include glyphosate (Roundup or Killzall) and triclopyr (Garlon or Brush B Gon).
   • Mix the herbicide according to the specific brand's guidelines and apply in the cuts with a spray bottle.
   • It is imperative that you pre-mix the herbicide so that you can apply it to the cuts as quickly as possible.
6. Wait. Now that you have interrupted sap flow from the tree and possibly applied a herbicide to the root system, simply wait for the tree to die.

Method 2 of 3: The chop-and-spray method

1. Take an ax. If you plan to use a herbicide on the tree, the chop-and-spray method can be as effective as girdling. Moreover, it means less work. The chop-and-spray method applies herbicide in precise cuts instead of the entire notch around the tree. The first thing you need is an ax.
2. Mix the herbicide in a spray bottle. The chop-and-spray method requires fewer cuts than girdling, but you must use the same herbicides. Mix the herbicide in a spray bottle before you start cutting.
   • Widely available and effective herbicides include glyphosate (Roundup or Killzall) and triclopyr (Garlon or Brush B Gon).

   Be careful with products with glyphosphate, such as the product Roundup. At home you can use crop protection products with glyphosate in the garden. In agriculture, farmers and growers are allowed to use crop protection products containing glyphosate. But other professionals, such as gardeners and water boards, are not allowed to do that. In short, the reason is that although experts agree that it is better not to use the product due to damage to nature, the environment and the health of the user, there is not always a viable alternative available. See here which products are allowed for use in the Netherlands. See here for a list of resources that are no longer allowed, but that you may still have at home, including certain types of Roundup.

   
   
3. Make a downward cut in the tree trunk. Use an ax and make a downward cut about 5 cm long in the trunk. The cut should be deep enough to reach the lighter colored sapwood for effective application of the herbicide.
4. Spray the herbicide into the incision. Once you make the cut, pull the ax out to the edge of the cut instead of all the way. Then use a spray bottle to spray the herbicide along the top of the ax, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the sapwood in the cut.
   • Make sure to spray with herbicide immediately before the softer wood in the cut has a chance to dry and harden.
   • The specific brand of the herbicide will provide guidelines on how much herbicide to apply in each cut, but the amount is usually 1 - 2 ml.
   • Various special injectors are also available for this if you have to treat several trees.
5. Repeat the down cuts as shown. The specific brand of the herbicide will provide guidance on how many cuts to make around the perimeter of the tree. Most trees will require a few more cuts spaced one inch to three inches from edge to edge.
6. Continue to apply herbicide in each cut. You must apply the same amount of herbicide to each cut in the trunk required by the herbicide brand. Continue to use the injector or the flat side of the ax to squirt the herbicide into the cuts until you've covered them all.

Method 3 of 3: Remove the tree and treat the stump

1. Take all necessary safety precautions. Unlike the other methods that leave the tree, this method requires the tree to be cut down. This makes this the best method for trees that obstruct the view or when there are other reasons why a tree must be removed immediately. Since you will have to cut down the tree, you must start by following all safety precautions when working with a chainsaw. Provide safety in the area where the tree will fall.
2. Mix the herbicide. As with other herbicide methods, apply a layer of glyphosate or triclopyr to the cuts once the tree is cut. Mix the herbicide in a spray bottle before cutting down the tree.
3. Cut down the tree. For smaller trees there is a much smaller area where they can fall and it is easier to work, but if you are working with a large tree you must take the necessary safety precautions when it comes to cutting it down.
   • For large trees, consider hiring an expert who will cut the tree for you.
4. Apply a coat of herbicide to the top of the remaining trunk. Many people do not realize that cutting down a tree does not kill the root system. Often the root system will develop new shoots. By applying a layer of herbicide to the exposed sapwood it is possible to treat the root system as well.
   • With smaller trees you can simply apply a layer over the entire cross-section of the trunk.In large trees, the paved middle part of the tree will not absorb herbicide, so you can layer around the outer annulus, more specifically where you can see the lighter colored sapwood.

Tips

• Other methods such as pruning too much can produce the same results as cutting down a tree without properly treating the stump - the root system can develop new shoots.
• Dead trees will likely drop once the dead root system has weakened. Even if the invasive root system is no longer a problem, you should still choose to cut down the tree for safety reasons. Just to be sure.
• For safety's sake, remove the stump, whether you are treating the stump or cutting down the tree after it dies.