Tree of Heaven Invading Urban Farm - Ask Extension
There are multiple Tree of Heaven along the road side at the back of my property, two smaller (but established) trees at the back of my property and a...
Knowledgebase
Tree of Heaven Invading Urban Farm #877634
Asked July 17, 2024, 1:43 PM EDT
There are multiple Tree of Heaven along the road side at the back of my property, two smaller (but established) trees at the back of my property and a larger tree on my neighbor's property. I broke ground on my urban farm this year with an initial till of the area to establish beds. I assume when tilling I hit the roots of the trees as little seedlings are now popping up throughout the farm space. I am growing food and therefore have not tried the hack and squirt method on the smaller trees on my property. Is there anything I can do to get control of this???
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
The sprouts are probably suckers, not seedlings, as the latter would be very easy to remove while the former very difficult, since they are attached to the main tree (or at least to a significant root system fragment). Sucker growth is a common response of many tree species to injury or stress.
The most effective and efficient method for Tree of Heaven eradication is to use systemic herbicide to kill the tree (via hack-and-squirt, where possible) and then (once fully dead, perhaps a month later) cut the tree down. Such highly targeted and limited applications of herbicide should not pose a significant risk to food plants nearby, since so little chemical is applied and in such a way that it is absorbed by the tree, but you would of course have to avoid drift and not make applications when it's too warm or breezy. Your county Extension office's urban agriculture specialist might have more recommendations or options for this situation.
Miri
The most effective and efficient method for Tree of Heaven eradication is to use systemic herbicide to kill the tree (via hack-and-squirt, where possible) and then (once fully dead, perhaps a month later) cut the tree down. Such highly targeted and limited applications of herbicide should not pose a significant risk to food plants nearby, since so little chemical is applied and in such a way that it is absorbed by the tree, but you would of course have to avoid drift and not make applications when it's too warm or breezy. Your county Extension office's urban agriculture specialist might have more recommendations or options for this situation.
Miri
