How to get rid of Hawthorn Tree?

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Hawthorns or Crataegus trees belong to the Rosaceae family, typically growing in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. This species is considered to be small in terms of height, with a maximum of only 50 feet.

Let’s take a look at how to kill and remove the Crataegus root system.

How to Kill Hawthorn Trees?

Some of the most popular options for killing trees are:

  • Foliar Spray
  • Cutting the tree down and treating the stump with Herbicides
  • Gridling or ring barking
  • Basal Bark treatment
  • Injecting the tree with killing chemicals
  • Cut surface treatment

Each of the above methods has its own pros and cons, make sure to give this article a read to learn more about them.

The best way to kill a small Hawthorn tree.

A small or a young Crataegus will only be about 15 feet high, on top of this they also have a large surface area in terms of the foliage. A lot of the branches will be touching the ground which makes the Foliar Spray technique perfect to handle this challenge.

For this method, you will need a sprayer and a bottle of an herbicide like Orthon, Roundup, or Triclopyr to go along with it. (More info here)

Use the method during calm weather as the herbicide will get carried away by the wind.

  1. Spray the the leaves of the tree with the herbicide. With this particular species you should move around the entire tree in a circle while spraying to cover the entire foilage area.
  2. The herbicide will then be absorbed by the leaves and transported to the roots interveining regular nutrien flow in the tree.
  3. Repeat the spraying proccess again after a few days.

Within a few weeks, you should see signs of the tree dying.

The best way to kill a large Hawthorn tree

A large Crataegus will barely get to 50 feet in height but as the name suggests it will develop 2-3 inches long thorns over its branches and stems. One peculiar thing about this species is that even when fully grown, Hawthorns’ trunk has a small diameter, branching off into even thinner branches.

A combination of Foliar Spray and Basal Bark treatment would be the most suitable method. The steps for the Foliar Spray would be the same as above. Once this is done, you can move over to Basal Bark Treatment.

  1. For basal bark treatment use an oil soluble mixture of a herbicide. The ideal proportion for mixing should be 1 part herbicide and 4-part oil carrier like kerosene basal oil or diesel. (follow the instructions of the manufacturer if stated otherwise)
  2. The best options you can go for is Tryclopyr (Amazon affiliate link). In some states even stronger herbicides are comercially availabe like Garlon 4 Ultra, Relegate, Forestry Garlon XRT.
  3. Once you have the solution, spray the bottom 20 inches of the trunk with the solution and let it dry out.
  4. Repeat the spraying process shortly after the first layer has dried out.
  5. If the tree is on the larger side, slash some parts of the bark with a hatchet to make the absorption faster. The cuts should be deep enough to penetarte the cambium layer of the tree.

A combination of both of these methods should be enough to kill a Crataegus. Usually, these methods are only reserved for young trees but in this case, they will work.

Cutting down the tree

On the other hand, if you simply want to cut the tree down, you can do so and treat the stump with a herbicide. Be careful while doing so though, even if the tree is not that large, it has a lot of thorns that can penetrate your skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you kill a Hawthorn tree without cutting it down?

How to Kill a Tree Without Cutting It Down? A Crataegus can be killed without cutting it down, the preferred methods for doing so would be Foliar Spray and Basal Bark treatment.

Can you kill a Crataegus organically?

Sadly no, the sure-shot killing methods require some sort of a chemical herbicide. There are methods using salt water and vinegar, but they are not as effective on Hawthorns.

How to get rid of re-growing shoots of Crataegus?

Cut the shoots from the base and spray some concentrated Roundup on the remaining shoots and stump to properly kill the root system.

When is the best time to kill Hawthorn trees?

The best time would be before August-September as this is the fruiting season. Some of the fruits can fall after this period which can lead to more trees sprouting near the area.

Conclusion

You can kill and remove a Hawthorn or Crataegus tree using the Foliar Spray and Basal Bark treatment. If you are in a hurry you can also simply cut the tree down.

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