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Herbicides for invasives near trees #879527

Asked July 31, 2024, 8:01 AM EDT

Can you recommend herbicides that will kill invasive plants without harming trees? Oaks in particular. Please ID by brand name as well as chemical. Are there specific chemicals I should avoid? I have white snakeroot, garlic mustard, and others. Many thanks.

Dakota County Minnesota

Expert Response

I would recommend you avoid them all. There are no 'safe' herbicides to use around trees. Most of them are neonicitnoids and will kill a lot good insects as well as the plants. some of them have been shown to kill trees.

Hand pulling or smothering the weeds are your best bet. 

Systemic herbicides kill plants by moving through their circulatory systems. Lower concentrations only mean that they will kill more broadleaf (read trees here) plants and not grasses. this is only because thin grass blades take up less poison.

Spray weeds also means drift. Even with little to no wind, you will have drift. Some of the chemicals have been shown to drift later. Spraying in temps over 80° can cause them to atomize.

If you choose to use an herbicide, the article below should help you understand the risks.

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=24291

Deb Reierson Replied August 01, 2024, 4:11 PM EDT
Thanks Deb.

It’s a difficult issue for me with a steep slope and 76 year old body.   Garlic mustard and others are overpowering, as is our woody nuisance, buckthorn.

I’ve used standard RoundUp with success, and I shield it from anything desirable, which seems to work fine.  I appreciate the thought about avoiding use in hot weather, and I will do my best to shield or avoid my oaks.  Buckthorn is a tree that is not deterred by spraying.  Cutting at the base and immediately applying a few drops of full strength RoundUp seems to work.  

I will be careful.

Regards,

Ron Seipp
13535 Harvest Court
Apple Valley, MN 55124-9597
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On Aug 1, 2024, at 3:11 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied August 02, 2024, 10:42 AM EDT
Thanks Deb!  Very helpful. 
Best wishes,  Ron

On Aug 5, 2024, at 8:59 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied August 05, 2024, 11:40 AM EDT

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