I want to eliminate some ailanthus (aka tree of heaven) as part of a timber management plan for my property. I am new to this and was hoping someone has had experience with this. The trees vary in size, from 2" in diameter all the way up to @ 12-14" in diameter. Specifically, is it better to do this while the trees are dormant in the winter, or wait until spring/summer? What herbicide should I use? What is the best method to permanently kill these trees off (cut them down and cover the stump, just spray the base of the tree without cutting, etc...).
Ailanthus/Tree of heaven
- Thread starter jd0716
- Start date
- Views: 5643
dooleysm
Platinum Member
We had a walk through of our stand of timber this past spring with the district forester and he specifically addressed this issue at my dad's request. We have a similar stand of ailanthus. He suggested cutting down the smaller ones and just girdling the larger ones, then treating both with Tordon.
We just worked on this for the first time 2 weekends ago. We didn't get near all of them, but the plan is to go back in the spring and attack another batch of them and retreat any that appear to have survivied.
They are supposedly a tough tree to kill, as they will send out new sprouts from the root when an attack like this is started. I'll be happy to discuss our results as we progress...
We just worked on this for the first time 2 weekends ago. We didn't get near all of them, but the plan is to go back in the spring and attack another batch of them and retreat any that appear to have survivied.
They are supposedly a tough tree to kill, as they will send out new sprouts from the root when an attack like this is started. I'll be happy to discuss our results as we progress...
dooleysm
Platinum Member
Incidentally, the Tordon that dad bought was about $15 for a quart. It treated as many trees as we could cut in about an hour.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
Even though I was in charge of applying the Tordon I don't remember any particulars, other than the price, which I specifically asked about. I thought the forester had said it was expensive, but I thought $15/quart was fairly reasonable, considering how far it went. We used it straight out of the bottle and it was a very visible green/blue, so it was obvious what had been treated. Dad said it was pretty nasty stuff, so I used rubber gloves while applying.
Girdling is cutting a ring around the tree, maybe an inch or two deep, about waist high (though I think that's just for convenience). This outer ring of the tree is where the sap is carried and will kill the tree. Not as fast as cutting it down obviously, but very effective, and much safer as far as the bigger trees are concerned. You don't have to worry about a tree falling on you. We then went around the girdle and covered it with the Tordon.
If the forester mentioned it, and he probably did, I have since forgotten.
I do recall him saying that there was no way you could get them all in one pass. They are hard to kill and you will have to keep at it for several years as you find more that you missed or have popped up since your last attempt.
In Indiana you can set up a walk through with a forester at no direct charge to you (obviously your tax money is paying his salary). It was very interesting and well worth the time (it took maybe 2-3 hours for our 30 acre woods).
Girdling is cutting a ring around the tree, maybe an inch or two deep, about waist high (though I think that's just for convenience). This outer ring of the tree is where the sap is carried and will kill the tree. Not as fast as cutting it down obviously, but very effective, and much safer as far as the bigger trees are concerned. You don't have to worry about a tree falling on you. We then went around the girdle and covered it with the Tordon.
If the forester mentioned it, and he probably did, I have since forgotten.
I do recall him saying that there was no way you could get them all in one pass. They are hard to kill and you will have to keep at it for several years as you find more that you missed or have popped up since your last attempt.
In Indiana you can set up a walk through with a forester at no direct charge to you (obviously your tax money is paying his salary). It was very interesting and well worth the time (it took maybe 2-3 hours for our 30 acre woods).
ToadHill
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2005
- Messages
- 2,722
- Location
- Catt county New York
- Tractor
- Kioti DK35, Ford 8N, Oliver Cletrac
Studies have been conducted on Beech trees that sprout from the roots by Cornell U and The univ of Virginia. They found you can kill these kind of trees by cutting them and applying glyphospate at full strength (40% solution) or above, right after they are cut.
I guess the theory behind it is that the phloum cells in the stump continue to transport stuff into the roots for some time after the tree is cut and the glyphospate will kill the roots.
I've done it with a few stands of beech I have in the woods and it works well. I've actually cut down some trees with a 24" stump, painted it then come back the next fall and found several 10 to 12 inch trees that must have been root suckers dead from the origional treatment. This has to be done when the leaves are on the trees, June, July and Aug are good times.
I guess the theory behind it is that the phloum cells in the stump continue to transport stuff into the roots for some time after the tree is cut and the glyphospate will kill the roots.
I've done it with a few stands of beech I have in the woods and it works well. I've actually cut down some trees with a 24" stump, painted it then come back the next fall and found several 10 to 12 inch trees that must have been root suckers dead from the origional treatment. This has to be done when the leaves are on the trees, June, July and Aug are good times.
Toadhill, sorry but I am a bit confused. You said that the treatment has to be done when the leaves are on the trees. Are you saying I should cut the trees in the summer and treat the stumps then? Or can I do it now or during the winter?
polo1665
Super Star Member
Had to look up Ailanthus, didn't know what it was. Found this link,maybe it will help.
PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
good luck
Mark
PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
good luck
Mark
polo1665, good link!!!
I had a stand, still spraying the shoots as they pop up (6 months later). I used a trackhoe and pulled all of them up, roots and all. That just pissed it off
and had many, many sprouts. If I were to do it again, I would do the basial coating. I used Garlon 4 and diesel at a high rate. By the way, I call it "The tree of heaven, from hel!"
I had a stand, still spraying the shoots as they pop up (6 months later). I used a trackhoe and pulled all of them up, roots and all. That just pissed it off
and had many, many sprouts. If I were to do it again, I would do the basial coating. I used Garlon 4 and diesel at a high rate. By the way, I call it "The tree of heaven, from hel!"
Last edited:
Erik_in_Hoyt
Platinum Member
in order for the chemical to be pulled in, it has to be applied while the tree is "awake" - leaves on, growing, etc... (Spring is great for this - and leaves enough growing season that you can make a second application in mid-summer)
if the tree is dormant (i.e. in the winter), nothing is being drawn into the roots, so the poison won't do any good.
Winter is a good time to prune trees you want to keep for the same reason - if the sap isn't flowing, the tree doesn't "bleed" OR draw infection in.
foggy1111
Elite Member
I have applied Tordon to our buckthorn....which is a similar tough to kill plant around here. Seemed to do a good job when painted on small stumps. The label on our Tordon said "RTU".....which means Ready To Use. I also had a quart (same price) and it treated allot of small stumps. After two years of applying to buckthorn....its gone.
Now....if I can just get my neighbors to work on it.
Now....if I can just get my neighbors to work on it.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
The forester had a few other names for it, all revolving around the stink he claimed eminated from the leaves and his disdain for the tree in general.
The leaves smelled like leaves to me.
The leaves smelled like leaves to me.
ShenandoahJoe
Gold Member
Following our forester's advice, I had good luck this past summer with a chainsaw and a bottle of concentrated Roundup. Get the Roundup on the fresh stump within a minute or two, just like they said above.
Good thing it worked, too, because I've got a few dozen more to do next summer.
Good thing it worked, too, because I've got a few dozen more to do next summer.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,904
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
Then it probably wasn't Tree of Heaven
Tear a leaf and give it a sniff....very nasty, like rotten meat.
I've been battling those things for several years, tough to kill, they even poison the ground to make it difficult for other plants to grow.
The stink also means you can't use them for firewood, at least not a campfire
Tree of Heaven and Poison Ivy- my two main enemies at my NC land, I'm so glad I have neither at my home in SC
ShenandoahJoe
Gold Member
The ones I took down were two to four inches across. I cut them all the way down, so I wouldn't have to come back later.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
Why do I have to cut down the dead tree? Can't I just leave it in the woods to fall on its own when I'm not around? I thought this was obvious...
ToadHill
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2005
- Messages
- 2,722
- Location
- Catt county New York
- Tractor
- Kioti DK35, Ford 8N, Oliver Cletrac
Eric has the right answer, the tree has to have leaves and be actively transporting nutrients through the xylem and phloem. In spring when the leaves have filled out is a good time to treat. I've used this system from May until August in the northeast. If your leaves fill out earlier, you can apply the glyphospate earlier than I do.
