Russian Olive or Elaeagnus Angustifolia belongs to the Elaeagnus family of trees which were originally native to Western and Central Asia but have established themselves in North America as well. Russian Olives are considered to be small trees. They are also regarded as an invasive species due to their ability to store Nitrogen in their roots which enables them to grow in the most nutrient-deprived areas.
Let’s take a look at how to kill Elaeagnus Angustifolia and their root system.
How to Kill Russian Olive Trees?
Some of the most popular methods of killing Russian Olive 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
All of the above methods have their own pros and cons. If you would like to learn more about these methods, I have another article about killing trees here.
The best way to kill a small Russian Olive tree
A young Elaeagnus Angustifolia usually grows up to a shrub’s height.
The first option is to simply cut down the Russian Olive tree using a chainsaw or an ax and treat the stump with a concentrated herbicide like Tordon RTU or Relegate etc.
Using a herbicide will ensure that the root system dies and prevent further growth of any shoots.
Cutting down a small shrub should not be an issue and you can get it done without any professional help. But if you don’t want to cut down the tree, there is an alternative method you can go for.
Foliar Spray Method
For this method, you will need a backpack sprayer and a herbicide to go along with it.
Make sure there is no wind during this as the herbicide can get carried away. The leaves of the tree should be dry before spraying the herbicide for maximum absorption.
- Use an effective herbicide like Roundup, Ortho, or Triclopyr, which you can find here.
- Spray the leaves of the Elaeagnus Angustifolia with the herbicide. With this species, it will take multiple coatings of the herbicide to get the job done.
- The herbicide will be absorbed by the leaves and transported to the roots, killing the tree over time.
The best way to kill a large Russian Olive tree
A large Elaeagnus Angustifolia will grow up to 25 feet tall. Because of its invasive nature, it is recommended to kill them as quickly as possible.
You can use two methods together to speed up the killing process- Ringbarking and Chemical Injection
Ringbarking
Ringbarking would be the easiest and the most efficient method for killing a large Elaeagnus Angustifolia as it will stop the nutrient flow from the roots to the stems. With the nutrient flow cut out by bark removal, the tree will slowly start to dry.
- You will need to either get a hatchet, saw or a chainsaw for this method.
- Remove a ring of bark around the entire tree, about 4-8 inches wide.
- As an extra step, spray some concentarted herbicide along the exposed bark. Tordon RTU would be the best option.
Make sure to take all of the safety precautions and read the manufacturer’s label before handing the herbicide.
Chemical Injection
- You will need a drill and a herbicide for this method.
- Drill holes, 2-3 inches deep along the circumference of the Elaeagnus Angustifolia, about 2-3 feet above the ground. The angle of the holes have to be downward to inject chemicals into them.
- Inject a strong herbicide like Roundup or Tordon RTU into these holes and let it absorb. This is the product I would recommend using.
- After about an hour, inject more herbicide into holes to increase the efficiency of this method.
Since Russian Olive many times has multiple trunks, make sure you drill holes and apply herbicide to each of the separate trunks.
What’s the best time to kill Russian Olive?
Winter would be a perfect time to kill an Elaeagnus Angustifolia. They shed all of their leaves during the beginning of fall and they start producing flowers during the beginning of spring. This means that the tree will require the most amount of energy right before spring. Killing the tree during winter or early spring will stop the nutrient supply needed to keep growing.
Things to consider while removing Russian Olive trees?
Elaeagnus Angustifolia can be very invasive and they can spread rapidly within an area. After killing them, pay attention to any new shoots growing nearby. It will be much easier to kill saplings as opposed to more established trees.
Should you hire a professional tree removal service?
Because of Elaeagnus Angustifolia being smaller trees, you can manage to get it killed on your own.
If you have to deal with a large number of Elaeagnus Angustifolia trees, then it can be a nuisance to individually kill and remove them.
On top of this, the cost factor also plays an important role. Buying all the tools and chemicals can turn out to be more expensive than buying a service from a local tree removal company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you kill a Russian Olive without cutting it down?
Although it is not recommended to kill Russian Olive without cutting it down, you can by using Girdling and Chemical Injection method. If the tree is just a shrub, you can also use the Foliar Spray technique.
Are the roots of Elaeagnus Angustifolia invasive?
Yes, the roots of Russian Olive grow near the ground and they grow pretty fast if the conditions are right. The fast-developing roots end up stealing nutrients from other nearby plants.
Can Russian Olive trees be killed using vinegar?
Vinegar can work on saplings but it is very unlikely that they will work on mature Russian Olive. Vinegar is not an efficient solution to killing trees.
Conclusion
A small Russian Olives or Elaeagnus Angustifolia, about the size of a shrub, can be killed using the foliar spray method. For bigger trees, you can use girdling along with chemical injection. Alternatively, you can also cut down the tree and treat the stump with concentrated herbicide.
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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.
