Killing unwanted trees, hack and squirt method

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Anyone tried it? Basically you just put hatchet cuts in a tree and squirt a herbicide into the cut and die off should occur over time. If you have experience, what herbicide did you use, and did you get good results?

This question would probably get more play on the forestry forum, but I'm not a member so thought I'd give it a shot here.

 

[RandyT]

I have used the hatchet girdle effect then spray with 2,d-s ester mixed with diesel fuel. Also have used that mixture on small trees as a basal treatment. Just wet the lower 18 inches or so and go to the next one.

 

[RNeumann]

It is my understanding you want to eliminate a section of cambium by "ringing" tree as stated above. With a section of this layer removed it will kill the tree- no herbicide needed.

 

[turnkey4099]

It is my understanding you want to eliminate a section of cambium by "ringing" tree as stated above. With a section of this layer removed it will kill the tree- no herbicide needed.

Buot the tree may, depending on species, put out new shoots below the girdle.

I wait till the sprouts have good leaves and then spray the new growth with RoundUp. Rarely does it need a 2nd dose.

 

[murse72]

I have used remedy mixed with diesel to kill sweetgum up to 8inches with out have to cut into the tree, remedy is not cheap but saves a lot of time without have to cut on the tree. Spray it around the base of the tree and it dies.

 

[teg]

Garlon 4 mixed with diesel... paint it on the bark with a brush. Which tree are you trying to kill?

Tree of Heaven (...from hell) takes many years to kill. It sprouts up again and again...

 

[Rustyiron]

Tree of Heaven (...from hell) takes many years to kill. It sprouts up again and again...

Yeah, I hack 'em out of the ground with the excavator, pile them up and squirt them with diesel fuel.... add match. :laughing:
Spray the new suckers the following year.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Pathfinder II basal herbicide. Paint the stump, let a little run down, it's dead soon. Works on wild cherry, elm, scrub oaks, hackberry, thorny locust, privet, trumpet vine. and many others.

 

[fried1765]

It is my understanding you want to eliminate a section of cambium by "ringing" tree as stated above. With a section of this layer removed it will kill the tree- no herbicide needed.

That is not true with locust trees!
Best for locust, is cut tree, and paint fresh cut stump with undiluted Gordons Brush killer (2-4D)

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

It is my understanding you want to eliminate a section of cambium by "ringing" tree as stated above. With a section of this layer removed it will kill the tree- no herbicide needed.

You are descrbing girdling which indeed will kill a tree. Hack and squirt does not require a complete ring through the cambian, rather hacks with a hatchet and then spraying the hacks with a herbicide. The herbicides I have seen referenced the most are Imazapyr, glyphosate, and Garlon 3A. Obviously glyphosate would be the cheapest alternative but I'm guessing each has its strong points and weaknesses with regard to various tree species. I'm probably going to give it a try and evaluate the effectiveness over time.