How to remove invasive willows?

plowhog · Sep 2, 2017

My neighbor has a large area of invasive willows, right up to his/my property line. He doesn't remove or control them as they provide privacy.

Along my side of the property line, I have surface irrigation ditch water. It's an ideal breeding ground for expansion of willows into my property, which is exactly what it has been doing.

In the narrow strip of land between the fence and the ditch water, I have been cutting the willows back to ground level using pruning shears. Several times per year as they grow rapidly. On the other side of the ditch I have been brush hogging them, well into my property -- probably forty feet. Cutting isn't working as I think they are just growing back-- with the root system already well established to fuel even faster growth.

The stems are often small- maybe 1/2 inch. But they are also very rugged. I think I need to pull them by the roots to get this invasion under control, but there is not much stem to grab onto. Would a brush grubber like this one be the best thing to try?

BrushGrubber | Shrub/Clump Grubber

CADplans · Sep 2, 2017

Why aren't you spraying them??

plowhog · Sep 2, 2017

I don't know of any herbicide that is selective to willows. Maybe there is one? I'm not currently growing any crop, but will want to grow alfalfa in the future. So if its non-selective that could be a future issue.

I've used Crossbow which is great for blackberries and scotch broom. But it didn't slow down the willows.

bigtiller · Sep 2, 2017

Gordon's Pasture Pro

I haven't tried it on willow trees but it has killed every tree under a 6" trunk I sprayed it on in the fence row, including Honey Locust. I usually spray towards the end of winter, mid to late February.

CincyFlyer · Sep 2, 2017

Are they big enough to grab with one of these? I have one, and it's quite useful. Plucking out honeysuckle and large roots, and then the neighbor needs 100 posts pulled.

powerscol · Sep 2, 2017

First - if possible pipe the irrigation ditch to remove the water source. If you get the correct pipe you don't need to cover it. I believe it called surface irrigation pipe. You can also go with standard pipe and paint it (prevents UV degradation).

I have used roundup or generic roundup (Spectricide) with excellent results, but do not apply with the water running in the ditch. I just spray the leaves and stocks. Once it is killed back you can control new sapling growth with a strong mix of 2-4-D (Rifle D). Neither of these products sterilize the soil so future planting is not a problem.

Just a note - if you tarp off his side before spraying, you can prevent killing off his plants, but you need the willows to be leafed out for roundup to work. Now if you have cut them back, just keep spraying any shoots that come up. Eventually you will kill off just your side. You will need to do this yearly (or when you see new growth) as they spread through the roots. Removing their water source will really help in controlling them. Another trick a neighbor did that hates weed spray (he is strictly organic) is cut them off right at the ground and cover the area with black plastic (he uses 20 mill). He keeps the plastic weighted down and with the summer heat it kills them off.

Hope this helps.

teg · Sep 2, 2017

Garlon 4... if you don't control your neighbor's problem... it will always be a problem for you. Even after control, expect 4-5 years of controlling sprouts. It's called invasive for a reason. :2cents:

Thomas · Sep 2, 2017

Had problem w/willow years back,I got backhoe dug the ditch line deeper and pack well,no more willows but ALOT of ferns.

Sawyer Rob · Sep 2, 2017

2 4 D, with some diesel in it... Willows WILL die, but they will just come back later, from his side again.

I just keep them out with my rotary cutter, yes they regrow, and yes I just have to recut them...

As long as he has them, you will too...

SR