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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: SamLouise on August 03, 2010, 21:01:53

Title: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: SamLouise on August 03, 2010, 21:01:53
It's a weed that grew to a fully fledged tree and our garden is so small, it just cannot stay.

We were rather naughty and just left it growing and growing because at first it looked nice and also the birds loved it :-[  Before we realised, it became humungus and out of hand!! As high as the upstairs windows and spreading over into next door's garden (our buddleia already does that too but I think they like the flowers!) Anyway, we've got it all down and shredded but are now left with a very thick trunk, about 2ft out of the ground and I can only imagine how big the roots are! How are we going to stop it from going on and on and on?  My dad gave us the lowdown on how to tackle it, but said it's going to be nigh on impossible to get out of the ground which leads me to ask, is there something we can buy to kill off the roots which is not going to damage anything else?  I know I must sound like such a novice but trees are not my forte!  I am hoping they're someone else's though! :)

Thanks :) 
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Jeannine on August 03, 2010, 21:14:26
Sam, there is something that can be bought here that burns it. It sort of just smoulders away till the root is completely gone, I don't know if available there but this is good because it kills the big tree roots after people have felled a tree.Myabe you can find out.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: OllieC on August 03, 2010, 21:19:41
Drill holes & fill them with wee. Top up as often as possible and it will rot. Don't let the neighbours catch you though!
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: grannyjanny on August 03, 2010, 21:43:49
Don't laugh. Could you turn it into a seat ;). I said don't ;D ;D ;D.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Jeannine on August 03, 2010, 21:49:29
Or hollow it out and plant geraniums in it XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: lincsyokel2 on August 03, 2010, 22:22:27
Thres various ways you can do it.

The basic plan is to drill a one inch hole down the trunk a fill it with something nasty that will kill the heartwood, you can try neat glyphosate weedkiller,  sodium hydroxide, neat antifreeze, a teaspoon of sodium chlorate (if you can find any). Even Copper Sulphate or battery acid might do it, depending on what it is.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: . on August 03, 2010, 22:39:08


 Any good ?

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4643462     :P
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: lincsyokel2 on August 03, 2010, 23:15:07
theoretically...........

if you spent about a week keeping the hole topped up with glycerine, let it dry then spent another week dripping molar nitric acid in, there would be a slow reaction and cellulose trinitrate would form, replacing the timber fibres. All you have to do then is let it dry out, and hitting the stump with a large sledgehammer should create a large enough explosion to blow it to pieces...............
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Jeannine on August 04, 2010, 01:36:35
Wow, would you like me to send you the slow burn one XX Jeannine


oops sorry it has been banned it was called Stump Remover if you want to look it up there

??something nitrate XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Kepouros on August 04, 2010, 12:51:02
There are several Glyphosate preparations which will kill the stump. For getting rid of the stump I always used either Sodium or Potassium chlorate.  Although these are now banned for horticultural use both are still manufactured in  this country for other purposes and a search of the web will give details of suppliers.

An alternative is Potassium Nitrate (still available as a fertilizer), used as a strong solution poured into holes drilled in the stump and allowed to dry for several months - then light a fire on top of it and it will burn away.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Amazingrotavator(Derby) on August 04, 2010, 16:33:59
Drill good size holes in the stump and fill with Deep Root.I've done it to a few in my garden.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: GRACELAND on August 04, 2010, 16:35:25
Drill good size holes in the stump and fill with Deep Root.I've done it to a few in my garden.

agree  :)
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Unwashed on August 04, 2010, 16:42:56
What kind of tree SL?  Some trees are buggers for re-growing whereas you can kill others but cotting the main trunk.

But at the end of the day if you want rid of the trunk you'll have to get someone in with a stump-grinder, or else it's a lot of graft with a pick axe.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Kepouros on August 04, 2010, 18:15:29
Deeproot will certainly kill the stump - it`s Glyphosate - but it won `t rot it or make it disappear.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: sunloving on August 05, 2010, 08:30:42
I would also cut out all the branches keep on top of any leaves that appear as these help the plant recover, dig out and cut as many roots as you can reach and leave it exposed with no soil to let it drink.

it may be long job but eventually youll get there.
good luck
x sunloving
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: sunloving on August 05, 2010, 08:31:54
ps leave enough of a thick branch on it to use to rock it when you remove it something you can easily grasp at around 3ft height.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 05, 2010, 20:41:06
If it's not too big you can tie black plastic over it to kill the shoots. If it's massive you can make a garden feature out of it.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: SamLouise on August 06, 2010, 22:27:40
Thanks for all of the helpful info, everyone.  I will show my OH when he gets back from his trip (what, you didn't think I was going to do it, did you? :P ;D) My parents also suggested making it into some kind of garden feature rather than spend the time trying to remove it and it's a possibility for sure seeing as the entire back garden is being re-done.  Anyway, thanks again and I'll let you know how we get on (and by we, I mean my husband ...)  :)
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: rog_pete on August 08, 2010, 10:44:40
theoretically...........

if you spent about a week keeping the hole topped up with glycerine, let it dry then spent another week dripping molar nitric acid in, there would be a slow reaction and cellulose trinitrate would form, replacing the timber fibres. All you have to do then is let it dry out, and hitting the stump with a large sledgehammer should create a large enough explosion to blow it to pieces...............

I love it.... are you an explosions monster in the making lincsyokel?
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: lincsyokel2 on August 08, 2010, 12:21:45
theoretically...........

if you spent about a week keeping the hole topped up with glycerine, let it dry then spent another week dripping molar nitric acid in, there would be a slow reaction and cellulose trinitrate would form, replacing the timber fibres. All you have to do then is let it dry out, and hitting the stump with a large sledgehammer should create a large enough explosion to blow it to pieces...............

I love it.... are you an explosions monster in the making lincsyokel?

I was when i was a lad   :P

I spent several summers around the age of 13 years old experimenting  with making various explosives and fireworks, with absolutely no regard to personal safety   :o

Not to mention the 18 million volt Tesla Coil we built, and the Van de Graff generator from an old TV line output stage............


My survival to school leaving age was purely down to luck and an A level in chemistry and physics .

 8)
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 08, 2010, 18:47:12
You're not the only one. Someone in my class had his briefcase blown up, and the Head had a visit from the local police regarding mysterious explosions in the shrubbery.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Kepouros on August 08, 2010, 21:24:44
On VE night in  1945 we had a large bonfire and a firework display provided entirely from our own home made fireworks.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: lincsyokel2 on August 08, 2010, 21:34:30
On VE night in  1945 we had a large bonfire and a firework display provided entirely from our own home made fireworks.

yes, but explosives and incendiaries were a bit easier to get hold of then. You try walking into a wholesale chemists and buying 8 Kg sintered carbon granules, 1.5 kg Potassium Nitrate and  0.5 Kg of flowers of sulphur, and see how far you get before two gentlemen from Special Branch call round.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: gp.girl on August 08, 2010, 21:48:42
theoretically...........

if you spent about a week keeping the hole topped up with glycerine, let it dry then spent another week dripping molar nitric acid in, there would be a slow reaction and cellulose trinitrate would form, replacing the timber fibres. All you have to do then is let it dry out, and hitting the stump with a large sledgehammer should create a large enough explosion to blow it to pieces...............

Could Mythbusters or Brainiacs try this?

Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: Froglegs on August 08, 2010, 22:30:25
Find a Ivy with a leaf you like and grow that over it for year round intrest.
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: powerspade on August 15, 2010, 05:11:23
There are several Glyphosate preparations which will kill the stump. For getting rid of the stump I always used either Sodium or Potassium chlorate.  Although these are now banned for horticultural use both are still manufactured in  this country for other purposes and a search of the web will give details of suppliers.

An alternative is Potassium Nitrate (still available as a fertilizer), used as a strong solution poured into holes drilled in the stump and allowed to dry for several months - then light a fire on top of it and it will burn away.
My Grandad used Potassium Nitrate its really does work
Title: Re: Any suggestions on how to kill off a tree (weed) please?
Post by: ipt8 on August 17, 2010, 22:17:37
Hi
You really need to decide what tree it is. Most broadleaves will sprout from the stump, most conifers will not. Conifers that will are Redwoods, yew, and some others that do not come to mind at the moment.

Roundup at 20% in water brushed on all exposed bark will kill it.

Your local hire centre should have a stump grinder that will get in a garden and do the job, at a cost. The cheapest is to persistently cut off new growth and it will die, but you have to do it when its leaves not twigs turning into branches.

You did not say what diameter the stump is? A mini digger would also do it.
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