Silver Birch or Betula Pendula belongs to the Betulaceae family of trees and is native to Southern Europe. Silver birch is deciduous in nature and can be found in most temperate regions of the world. They are recognized by their paper-like peeling white bark.
Let’s take a look at how to kill a Silver Birch tree its root system.
How to Kill Silver Birch Trees?
Some of the most common methods to kill Silver Birch 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 are interested in learning more about killing trees, I would refer back to my other article.
One more thing to keep in mind is that most of these methods will only end up killing the tree. Depending on the location of the tree, you will still have to remove it once it is dead.
The best way to kill a small Silver Birch tree
A small Betula Pendula is considered to be less than 10 feet tall. There are two methods you can use here.
The first one would be Cutting down the tree and treating the stump with a herbicide like Tordon RTU. It won’t be too much of an issue to cut down a tree this small and you can even get it done yourself. It also would be the fastest method.
The other method you can go for would be the Basal Bark Treatment. This species has slender trunks and when the Silver Birch is this young, the trunk will be less than 6-7 inches in diameter.
Basal bark treatment
Make sure that the tree is not wet while performing this technique as the chemicals are hydrophobic, which means they will not be absorbed as effectively.
More importantly, wear protective gear while using this method. (follow manufacturers instructions)
You will need a backpack sprayer for spraying the chemical, a strong herbicide, and an oil-based solvent. (List of Recommended products here)
Ideally, you should choose herbicides that contain Trycloper or Trycloper Ester as the main chemical. Even Imazapyr-based herbicides can be a good option. For example, Garlon 4 Ultra, Relegate, Forestry Garlon XRT, Aligarh Trycloper are good choices, but not available to the consumer market in a lot of states. The best alternative would be Tryclopyr from Amazon (Affiliate link)
- Mix the herbicide with diesel, basal oil, fuel oil, or kerosene.
- The ideal proportion for mixing should be 1 part herbicide and 4-part solvent, so about 20-25% concentration.
- Once you have the solution, spray the bottom 20 inches of the Betula Pendula tree with this solution and let it dry out.
- Repeat this process again for higher efficency once the first layer has been absorbed.
Some types of herbicides in the market can directly be used for this method without needing to mix with anything, like ‘Pathfinder II’, but these types of herbicides are more expensive. There are a lot of varieties in the market, so make sure to read the label before using them.
The best way to kill a large Silver Birch tree
A large Betula Pendula will only grow to about 70-80 feet tall. The best method to use here would be girdling or in other words ringbarking.
Ringbarking
Ringbarking is one of the easiest methods to kill a tree. By removing bark from the entire circumference of the tree, you will disturb the nutrient flow within the tree. This alone will start killing the tree over time.
- You will need to either get an axe, knife or chainsaw for this method.
- Simply remove a ring of bark around the entire tree, about 4-8 inches wide.
- Spray some herbicide along the exposed bark. You can go for the ‘Dow AgroSciences Tordon’ which you can find on Amazon or even use Roundup ot Triclopyr mentioned earlier.
Alternatively, you can also simply cut down the tree. But you will have to be more careful due to its size.
What’s the best time to kill Silver Birch?
Betula Pendula tend to shed their leaves during fall. Starting the killing process by ringbarking the tree in the winter would be the best time. This way the tree wouldn’t have nutrients to grow new leaves and seeds in spring.
Should you hire a professional tree removal service?
If your Betula Pendula is small, you can manage to kill it on your own. On the other hand, if the tree is big, it can get quite tricky. From killing trees to getting them cut down and transported, there are a lot of factors to consider, and hiring a professional will take care of most of these problems.
Hiring a professional is especially important if the tree is located near a house, or if you need the stump removed afterward.
The cost factor also plays an important role too. Figuring out all of these separate logistical details can turn out to be quite costly. I would refer back to my tree removal cost article for more information on that.
Frequently Asked Question
Can you kill a Silver Birch without cutting it down?
Yes, the preferred method for killing a Silver birch without cutting it down would be Basal Bark treatment when the tree is young and girdling when the tree is mature.
Can you kill a Betula Pendula with Vinegar?
If you have to kill shoots or small plants, undiluted vinegar can be sprayed on the foliage or leaves to kill the saplings over time. Vinegar will not be effective on established trees.
Will Antifreeze kill Betula Pendula?
Antifreeze or Ethylene Glycol will seriously harm trees and grass, but it won’t be able to kill large mature trees.
Conclusion
You can kill a Silver Birch or Betula Pendula tree using Basal bark Treatment when the tree is young and Girdling when the tree is mature. Alternatively, you can simply cut down the tree and treat the remaining stump with a herbicide.
Recommended reading:
Hi!
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.
