How to Kill Volunteer Trees?

Sometimes, you will notice that unwanted trees grow in your lawn or garden. And these unexpectedly growing volunteer trees prevent the growth of your nurtured plants. So, to save your garden, you need to get rid of them. So, let’s explore how to kill volunteer trees.

Usually, cutting these trees down quickly kills them. That said, not all localities permit owners to kill trees, especially if you are around a traffic area. In that case, you need to rely on the chemical application as I’ve described.

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How to Kill Volunteer Trees

Volunteer or weed trees in the unwanted place are difficult to maintain, especially if they grow beyond 50 feet. And without removing them, you cannot protect your lawn or other plants.

As oak trees are common to grow in most places, here is how to get rid of volunteer oak trees. These methods also work for other tree removals –

Method-1: Cut the Tree

If you have the permit to cut down trees in your area, you can fall the tree to kill it. However, only take up the task if you have spacious ground around the tree so that you can easily make an escape route for its fall. For the process, all you have to do is:

Step 1: Preparation

Wear a stiff hat, helmet, safety goggles, gloves, and clothing. Remove any obstacles and debris around the ground. Pick in which direction you want the tree to lean or fall. And make sure in that direction there are no structures or electrical lines.

Step 2: Cut Branches

If you reduce the canopy or tree branches, it will make a lot less mess once the tree leans toward the ground. So, use a ladder to get to the top and cut the branches with a chainsaw. It is better to remove the twigs first.

Step 3: Assemble the Branches

Once you have trimmed off the branches and foliage, assemble them on the ground. Then, place them away from you and the tree. It will make space for the oak tree to fall freely.

Step 4: Make Undercuts

Using the chainsaw, make an undercut on the lower tree trunk. The cut should be facing the direction you want the tree to fall. The depth of the cut should be one–fifth of the total diameter of the trunk.

Step 5: Make Backcuts

Move to the opposite side of the first cut. A few inches above the initial cut, create another cut. There should be a layer of bark between these two. Once you have made the back cut, leave the place and let the tree fall.

Step 6: Drill Stump

Once the trunk falls, get it removed. Then, to prevent the regrowth of the volunteer tree, drill holes in the stump. And apply some glyphosate mix to the holes. It will decompose the roots and stump.

After a few weeks, rent a tree-grinding machine to loosen the stump and dig it out.

Method-2: Use Epsom Salt

Due to local regulations, cutting volunteer trees is not always possible. In that case, try out the natural salt mix to kill the plant. And here is the process as follows:

With a shovel, take the soil off around the tree.

Take a handaxe to dig out the soil, and it will gradually expose some of the tangled roots of the plant.

Drill holes on the lower trunk in a circumference. The holes should face a 45-degree downward angle.

Add a similar amount of water and Epsom salt and insert the mix into the drills.

Apply some salt over the exposed roots as well.

With plastic wrap, cover the holes and roots to retain the moisture.

After three weeks, repeat the whole process.

In about a month or so, the tree will rot and die.

Method-3: Injecting

The salt method can be too slow to kill the tree. If you do not want to risk your other vegetation for that long, inject chemicals into the tree. For that, all you have to do is:

On the lower trunk, drill some holes around the tree. The drills should be half–inch deep at least.

Prepare Tordon or Glyphosate solution as per the manufacturer’s manual.

Fill a few injecting tubes with the prepared herbicide mix.

Push the injectors into the holes and let the solution penetrate the trunk.

Note that it will take 24 to 48 hours for the tree to absorb the mix, so avoid removing the injectors for two days.

Then add a thick layer of mulch around the injected areas.

Wait for a few weeks for the tree roots to die.

Where Do Volunteer Trees Come From?

Some species of trees, such as maple, oak, tree of heaven, and black walnut trees, can unexpectedly grow anywhere. And they damage your structure or plants around the ground. These trees grow from seeds carried by birds and other animals.

Sometimes, the wind is prone to transfer these seeds to your garden. Also, some animals transplant the seedlings or seeds by accident. And as they require little maintenance, these trees volunteer themselves to grow.

Watch the clip to learn more about volunteer tree removals:

Conclusion

Volunteer trees can easily regrow from the stump if you have not correctly eliminated their roots and stumps. However, once you get a hold of how to kill volunteer trees, you can easily control their unexpected growth. And to speed up the process, you can rely on herbicides.

In order to make the process easier, I will recommend removing them once these trees are young. Because with time, they will develop sturdy root systems.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s):

Is it okay to keep volunteer trees in your garden?

It depends on whether the volunteer trees grow invasive roots or not. Mulberry and black locust trees can spread roots over your concrete structure and damage them. So, it is better to kill when they are young.

How to kill volunteer mulberry trees?

Mulberry trees are stress-resistant. So to kill them, you need to starve their roots. In this case, cover the roots with a black tarp to deprive them of sunlight. Without direct sunlight, they will die.

Can Roundup kill volunteers or weed plants?

Roundup needs to penetrate the roots and trunk to kill trees. So, once you remove the outer bark layer and inject Roundup, it will work effectively.

Conclusion