Pine or Pinus belongs to the Conifer family of trees, most of the trees in this species are evergreen in nature. Pines can grow anywhere from shrub size to gigantic sizes. They are also one of the longest-lived trees in the world and can usually be found in higher altitudes.
How to Kill Pine Trees?
Some of the most popular tree-killing methods, including Pines, 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 different tree-killing methods, make sure to read my other article on the topic here.
One thing to keep in mind is that most of the above methods will only end up killing the tree, depending on the situation you might have to cut the tree down once it is dead because they will become more prone to falling.
The best way to kill a small Pine tree
A small Pinus is considered to be less than 10 feet tall. The preferred method for killing conifers, including pine this size, would be Foliar Spray or simply cutting the tree down.
The foliar spray method requires a herbicide to be sprayed on the leaves of the tree which will get absorbed and kill including the root system over time.
While dealing with Pinus, you likely have to coat the tree a couple of times because needle-like leaves have less surface area to absorb the chemicals.
Make sure there is no wind or rain while you apply the herbicide as it will get carried away.
Recommended products for the job can be found here.
- You will be needing a sprayer and a herbicide such as Roundup, Triclopyr or Ortho.
- Make sure the foilage of the tree is dry
- Spray the needle-like leaves with the chemical and let it dry out.
- Repeat the sprying process after the first layer has been absorbed
The other method is to simply cut down the tree and treat the stump with a herbicide to kill the root system and prevent further growth. This shouldn’t be very tricky because of the small size of the tree. Tordon RTU is a suitable herbicide for the task.
The best way to kill a large Pine tree
A large Pinus Tree can grow to mammoth proportions, sometimes reaching above 250 feet in height. To effectively kill the Pine tree that is on a larger side, you will have to use two methods in conjunction.
Ringbarking
Ringbarking would be the easiest method to carry out. It will stop the nutrient flow from the roots to the stems and the leaves, killing the tree in the long run.
- You will need to either get a hatchet or chainsaw for this method.
- Remove a ring of bark around the entire tree, about 4-8 inches wide. The wider the ring of bark is, the better.
- For extra measure, spray concentarted herbicide along the exposed bark.
Chemical Injection
You will need a drill and a herbicide for this method.
- Drill holes at a downwar angle, 2-3 inches deep along the circumference of the tree, about 2-3 feet above the ground.
- If the tree has really thick bark, the holes have to be deeper.
- Inject a strong herbicide like Roundup or Tordon RTU into the holes and let it absorb. You can use ‘Dow Agrosciences Tordon’ herbicide from Amazon (affiliate link).
- After the chemical is absorbed, inject more herbicide into these holes to increase the absorbtion.
Make sure you follow all the manufactures safety precautions while executing the methods.
What’s the best time to kill Pine?
Pinus are evergreen in nature, therefore you can use these methods effectively all year round. The best time would be just before they produce their seeds, which is usually during late spring and early summer.
Should you hire a professional tree removal service?
If your Pinus is small, you can manage to get it done by yourself. On the other hand, if the tree is big, the removal process can be tricky
Killing the tree takes a lot of time, though, in essence, it is easy.
On the other hand, if you need to remove the entire tree right off the bat, and get the stum ground, there are a lot of factors to consider, and hiring a professional will take care of most of these problems.
On top of this, the cost factor to buy or rent the right tools will turn out to be more expensive.
I will write a tree removal cost guide in the upcoming days to give you an idea of how much tree removal service can cost. The article is now uploaded, check it out here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you kill a Pine without cutting it down?
Yes, the preferred method for killing a Pine tree without cutting it down would be Foliar Spray if the tree is small and Girdling or Chemical Injection if the tree is mature.
Can you use Copper nails to kill a Pinus?
Yes, Copper nails can be used to kill a tree based on various sources. However, the efficiency of this method is questionable. You will need to use a lot of nails to hurt a fully grown tree.
What chemicals in herbicides are most effective in killing Pinus trees?
Any herbicide that has Glyphosate, Imazapyr, Nitrogen, or Metsulfuron will be effective for killing Pinus. Tordon RTU, Roundup are some of the examples.
Conclusion
To kill a small Pine tree, the most effective method would be foliar spray. For a mature tree, you have to use ringbarking and chemical injection in conjunction for the fastest results. Alternatively, you can cut the tree down and treat the remaining stump with herbicide to prevent further sprouting.
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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.
