Maple or Acer trees are some of the most popular trees all over the world. Maple is famously known for being on the Canadian Flag and cultivated because of its beautiful fall colors and extraction of maple syrup. The species has a lot of size variation, with some varieties only being shrubs while some growing more than 130 feet tall. Maples have a really invasive root system that can break through water pipes, gas lines, etc.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways of killing Maple Trees and their root system
How to Kill Maple Trees?
Some of the most popular methods used for killing Maple 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
If you wish to learn more about these methods, make sure to give my other article a read discussing each of these methods in detail.
The best way to kill a small Maple tree
A small Acer Tree can be anywhere from a shrub’s size to about 10 feet tall. The roots of this species are very invasive, so you have to look for methods that are extremely effective.
If you are dealing with a shrub variety, simply cutting it down and treating the stump of the Maple tree with a herbicide would be the fastest and most efficient way to kill the tree and its root system.
The preferred herbicide for stump treatment is Tordon RTU or Glyphosate. this is a good option. (Amazon affiliate link)
The cutting and stump treatment method will work with trees and shrubs of any size.
The best way to kill a large Maple tree
A large Acer can grow huge, and with its invasive root system, it is important to kill the tree fast. It is recommended to use a couple of methods in conjunction to fasten the killing process. Girdling and Chemical Injection would be the preferred combination.
Girdling
Ringbarking would be the easiest and the most efficient method for killing a large Acer as it will stop the nutrient flow from the roots to the stems and the leaves.
- You will need to either get a hatchet or a saw for this method.
- Remove a ring of bark around the entire tree, about 4-8 inches wide.
- Spray consentrated herbicide along the exposed bark.
Chemical Injection
The chemical injection can be used as an addition to girdling. You will need a drill and a preferred herbicide for this method.
- Drill holes, 2-3 inches deep along the circumference of the Maple, about 2-3 feet above the ground. The holes have to be made at a downward angle
- Inject a strong herbicide like Roundup or Tordon RTU into the holes and let it absorb.
- After the chemical has been absorbed, inject more herbicide into the holes.
What is the best time of the year to kill a Maple?
Acers are deciduous in nature which means that they will shed all of their leaves during fall. The best time to kill them would be in early spring, just before they start producing new flowers. Killing Maple during this time would stop the tree from getting nutrients during the flowering season.
Should you hire a professional tree removal service?
If your Acer is young and small, you can manage to kill and remove it yourself. On the other hand, if the tree is big, it will be a difficult task.
From killing the tree to getting it cut down and transported, there are a lot of factors to consider. Hiring a professional will take care of most of these problems.
Take a look at my tree removal cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you kill a Maple without cutting it down?
Although you should cut down the tree whenever possible to speed up the killing process. You can kill it without cutting it down by using Chemical Injections along with Girdling.
Can you use diesel to kill Acer trees?
Diesel can kill trees However, diesel alone will not be as effective. For the best results, you should mix diesel with equal parts of sugar and apply it using any of the above methods.
What is the best time of the year to kill Acer trees?
You should kill Acer trees in early spring as the nutrient flow within the tree activates.
Conclusion
The best way to kill a Maple tree is by cutting it down and treating the stump with a herbicide. Alternatively, if you do not want to cut the tree down, you can use Girdling and Chemical Injection method in conjunction to kill the tree.
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I am the guy behind Theyardable.com. I grew up on a homestead and I am here to share the knowledge I have and things I learn while living in the countryside.
