What chemicals can kill a tree without harming people? (trees, mowing, insects)

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by L00k4ward

Please do not use any type of salt on your property: the salt doesn’t just disappear- even if the tree stump rotted eventually - the salt migrates with the water in soil and could damage your concrete foundation eventually or other desirable vegetation.
The salt in the soil is an actual problem in the SW.

It would NOT help to rot the in ground roots - in fact it would impede rotting. The salt may just prevent SOME trees from re-sprouting - but most of the trees do not re-sprout if cut.

Just get professional arborist to cut the tree down and to grind the stump.
Then the landscaper or you level the soil and place whatever landscape you want - turf, gravel, shrubbery, etc.

If you must leave the stump to save money (it wouldn’t save much btw) - do what zoisite recommended- drilling many holes with the spade drill bit - but fill it with rich black soil or compost - to introduce some microbes and 100% nitrogen fertilizer (some people just pour their own urine on it as it is a rich nitrogen source) - it will help microbes and fungi to establish and rot the tree - the stump must be kept moist - cover with soil and spray often?

Still it would take a year or 2 for the stump to collapse? Just rent the stump grinder or better yet hire the guy with the stump grinder..

The roots of the trees even the large ones don’t grow too deep - they need air which isn’t available deep down - so your foundation may not be affected at all? And one doesn’t need to get rid of roots deep down - they have no life of its own …and don’t attack your foundation

Check with your insurance - they may pay for tree removal in some cases if it presents the danger to the house?

What type of tree is it? How close to the house?
Some have tap roots which go straight down and may not be a factor for your foundation issues.

In this case just correct pruning to raise the branches could be all you need?

Looks like there is a program in your city ? where one could get a water bill discount for the tree maintenance?
Healthy trees are good!

https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreat...ee-information

Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Would you explain why must the stump be kept moist? I was under the impression that drying may speed up the rotting process. Is a black cover needed to block sunlight from the stump?

Attached is a photo of the tree. Seems like a willow tree. The 6-story building to the left is the one whose foundation may be weakened by the large tree being so close to it.

Please know that I research this for a friend who lives in the building in a foreign country. The local community will take care of cutting down the tree per my friend's suggestion and covering the costs.

One more question: How to fell the tree safely without letting it fall towards the building? In other words, how to control the direction of the tree falling?

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by LoveAlbuquerque

..... One more question: How to fell the tree safely without letting it fall towards the building? In other words, how to control the direction of the tree falling?

Yes, that's a willow and it appears to be quite a bit more than 40 feet tall. You weren't kidding about it being close to the building, as it is now a real hazard to the whole building, not to only the foundation.

In a crowded space like that so close to buildings the tree cutters won't fall the tree as one whole piece, they will usually take it apart in smaller sections where it stands. They usually start by removing the lower limbs first and work their way up to the top cutting off limbs. As they go up the tree cutting they will be dropping or lowering the cut limbs and branches directly straight down to the ground to a crew of men below who are collecting and putting the limbs and smaller branches through a big chipper.

Once the still standing main tree trunk(s) is bare they will start cutting off manageable sections of the trunk starting at the top and working their way down the trunk to the bottom until there is nothing left standing but a short stump.

To get rid of the stump and any big surface roots of a tree that size I think it would ordinarily be more efficient and immediate to bring in a stump grinder and be done with it and gone right away rather than slowly poisoning the roots.

.

[rabbit33]

Steel.

Use axe or chainsaw to make a very short stump, then hire a stump grinder to make it level.

Be advised that as the roots rot the ground will settle. You'll possibly need to backfill over time.

If it's a willow, those are notorious for weak wood, and while I hate the general tendency to cut down trees whenever they're a tiny bit inconvenient, a 5 story tall willow a couple feet from your house may well be the exception that does really need to go away.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by LoveAlbuquerque

Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Would you explain why must the stump be kept moist? I was under the impression that drying may speed up the rotting process. Is a black cover needed to block sunlight from the stump?

Attached is a photo of the tree. Seems like a willow tree. The 6-story building to the left is the one whose foundation may be weakened by the large tree being so close to it.

Please know that I research this for a friend who lives in the building in a foreign country. The local community will take care of cutting down the tree per my friend's suggestion and covering the costs.

One more question: How to fell the tree safely without letting it fall towards the building? In other words, how to control the direction of the tree falling?

From the picture, it is obvious that work has begun on limbing the tree, likely in preparation for removal, as Z described. That means that felling is not an issue, just the stump removal and prevention of water sprouts growth. Z's method is good. I might gather pine needles as mulch for the area to limit the regrowth. I've never seen a willow grow near pines.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by LoveAlbuquerque

Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Would you explain why must the stump be kept moist? I was under the impression that drying may speed up the rotting process. Is a black cover needed to block sunlight from the stump?

In deference to Zoisite who really knows her stuff, moisture favors the decomposing microorganisms that are doing the work. Covering it with black plastic helps retain moisture, exclude light those bugs don't like, and the warmth generated under the black plastic may also speed up the process.

[L00k4ward]

Originally Posted by LoveAlbuquerque

Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Would you explain why must the stump be kept moist? I was under the impression that drying may speed up the rotting process. Is a black cover needed to block sunlight from the stump?

Attached is a photo of the tree. Seems like a willow tree. The 6-story building to the left is the one whose foundation may be weakened by the large tree being so close to it.

Please know that I research this for a friend who lives in the building in a foreign country. The local community will take care of cutting down the tree per my friend's suggestion and covering the costs.

One more question: How to fell the tree safely without letting it fall towards the building? In other words, how to control the direction of the tree falling?

Thank you for the photo.
The devil is in details as they say and some recommendations must be changed regarding this particular tree.
As already pointed out - it looks like a willow tree - Latin name Salix spp.
close photos of the bark, shoots and leaves would help to confirm it. The climate of the geographical location would help too.

If it is a willow
The willows are very moisture loving, very fast growing but not very long lived trees and have a weak wood structure: it is a good idea to remove the willow completely - it is too close to the building.

Unfortunately, willow trees unlike the majority of other trees are readily sprout from the root system - the roots have advantageous buds and try to sprout numerous new plants.
Moisture will promote a new growth.

Willows generally have moderate ( and in some cases high) salt tolerance level - up to 5% of plant mass as some research determined.

The first choice still to grind the stump to oblivion and keep the area in grass as in lawn: so the new shoots which may potentially start growing could be cut when tender with the regular mowing.

The second choice if the stump has to be left for some reason - is to use herbicide - painting it on the stamp.

If allowed and exists in that country - oil based herbicide would promote deeper penetration of the herbicide into the tree roots killing it.
The deeper roots don’t need to be dug out.


Read the directions on the herbicide and follow them precisely: make sure that willow(Salix spp) is listed on the label; do not apply more then prescribed and do not apply it at the wrong time of the year.

Check what type of herbicides local authorities allow in residential environment (you didn’t mention the country)
If applied correctly according to the label - it is safe to use and won’t hurt anyone or anything.

Alternatively to the second choice - is to keep the stump dry and keep removing the sprouting shoots if any - one could just rub them off with the gloved hand when young -spring, summer and fall.

Herbicide use or not- if the stump remains then the bark surrounding the stump must be removed - it should not be too difficult - it is usually thick and corky, but separates easily if it is a newly cut down tree: it will help to keep the stump dry at first for several months - reducing or even preventing the sprouting of the shoots.

Let the stump dry out - as any moisture would promote regeneration of the tree around the stump and vicinity.

If you need help on how to fell the tree away from the building - the links with graphics below
In your case - most of the branches should be removed, the trunk cut in stages to lower levels in order to not let it damage the building accidentally

https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g1958

https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2018/...-tree-felling/

https://www.robsonforensic.com/artic...expert-witness

[steiconi]

we had a big pine tree removed, and the stump ground to below dirt level. Never got sprouts or other problems.
But some trees will sprout from the roots. Acacias, mimosas...

[Northern Maine Land Man]

If it's a coniferous tree, drive a few copper nails into the trunk. You can get copper nails from a boatyard. If you want to get rid of a nuisance tree, drive copper nails into te roots you can reach below ground level. just move turf or dirt away from the roots, drive the nails into the roots and put the turf and dirt back. This works.

[sam812]

I have done this several times. Cut the tree down and cut the stump as close to the ground as possible. Buy a bag of water softener salt and pour it on top of the stump. It will kill the roots and leave a circle of death a few inches around the stump that lasts for a couple years.

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by Zoisite

Yes, that's a willow and it appears to be quite a bit more than 40 feet tall. You weren't kidding about it being close to the building, as it is now a real hazard to the whole building, not to only the foundation.

In a crowded space like that so close to buildings the tree cutters won't fall the tree as one whole piece, they will usually take it apart in smaller sections where it stands. They usually start by removing the lower limbs first and work their way up to the top cutting off limbs. As they go up the tree cutting they will be dropping or lowering the cut limbs and branches directly straight down to the ground to a crew of men below who are collecting and putting the limbs and smaller branches through a big chipper.

Once the still standing main tree trunk(s) is bare they will start cutting off manageable sections of the trunk starting at the top and working their way down the trunk to the bottom until there is nothing left standing but a short stump.

To get rid of the stump and any big surface roots of a tree that size I think it would ordinarily be more efficient and immediate to bring in a stump grinder and be done with it and gone right away rather than slowly poisoning the roots.

.

Thanks for the instructions! They are clear and easy to follow.

The only challenge is the low brick house next to the tree (as shown in the photo). There may not be room for a stump grinder.