How to get rid of a Tamarind tree?

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Tamarind or Tamarindus Indica is a medium growth, evergreen tree which grows up to about 30-40 feet tall. Tamarind is usually used as a cash crop because of its heavy use in Indian and Filipino cuisine. The species produces long oval-shaped fruits which also contain the seed within them. Because of their tropical origin, Tamarind trees are very sensitive to frost.

Let’s look at some methods for killing Tamarind trees as well as their root system.

How to Kill Tamarind Trees?

When you are looking for methods to kill Tamarindus Indica trees here are some of the most popular killing techniques:

  • 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 the listed methods, make sure to check out my other article here.

The best way to kill a small Tamarind tree

For a small Tamarindus Indica less than 10 feet tall, the foliar spray technique would be the best way to kill the tree. You can also use this method if the tree is small.

Because of its evergreen nature, it has a good foliage cover all year round.

For this method, you will need a backpack sprayer and a herbicide.

  • Make sure there is no wind or rain during this as the herbicide can get carried away.
  • The foilage of the tree should be dry at the time of spaying.
  • Use an effective herbicide like Roundup, Ortho or Triclopyr. It is recommended that you add some type of a dye to the herbicide to mark the trees which have been treated. This will come in handy if you have to kill multiple trees.
  • Spray the foliage of the tree with the herbicide. With this species, it will take multiple coatings.
  • The herbicide will be absorbed by the leaves and transported thoughout the tree, to the roots, killing the tree over time.

Depending on the season It can take several treatments before you start seeing signs of the tree dying.

Alternative method

Because of Tamarind’s thin trunk at a young age, you can also use Basal Bark Treatment. Remember that this method should only be used if the trunk is less than 7 inches in diameter.

  • For this method you will need a sprayer for spraying the chemical.
  • It is crucial to use oil soluble mixture of a herbicide. The ideal proportion for mixing should be 1 part herbicide and 4-part oil carrier.
  • One of the best options you can go for is the oil soluble formulation of Triclopyr. (Amazon affilate link) Similarly, Garlon 4 Ultra or Forestry Garlon XRT, can also be used, but not awailable in mosts states for the consumer market.
  • Once you have the solution, spray the bottom 20 inches of the trunk, and exposed roots with this solution and let it dry out.
  • One the first layer has been absorbed, repeat the process again.

The best way to kill a large Tamarind tree

There are two methods you can go for to kill a large Tamarind.

Either cut the tree down to a stump and treat it with a concentrated herbicide like Roundup or Tordon. Always remember to treat it with a herbicide otherwise the tree might sprout back.

See my recommended herbicides here.

The other method you can go for is the Cut Surface Treatment.

Cut Surface Treatment

  • Take an axe or a chainsaw and cut 2-3 inch deep gashes into the trunk of the tree, all around the circumference.
  • Within 15 minutes of making the cuts, spray some consentrated herbicide into the cuts and let it absorb.
  • Once the herbicide is absorbed, repeat by spraying more herbicide into the cuts.

What’s the best time to kill Tamarind trees

The fruits of Tamarind have matured by early to late winters. Therefore, you should ideally kill Tamarind before the end of the fall season to prevent seeds from falling and sprouting new saplings.

Should you hire a professional tree removal service?

This depends on the type and size of the tree you are dealing with. If your Tamarindus Indica is young and small, you can manage to get it removed by yourself.

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. Hiring a professional will take care of most of these problems.

On top of this, the cost factor also plays an important role. Figuring out all of these separate logistical details can turn out to be quite costly.

I recommend you take a look at my tree removal cost article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you kill a Tamarind tree without cutting it down?

Yes! You can do so by using Basal Bark Treatment and Foliar Spray when the tree is young. If the tree’s trunks diameter is bigger than 7 inches, you can also use Cut Surface Treatment.

Can you kill a Tamarind Tree with bleach?

You can kill the Tamarind tree with bleach only when the tree is small. Bleach will only end up harming large and establish trees but it won’t kill them.

How many Copper nails will it take to kill a Tamarindus Indica?

Depending on the size of the tree, the number of Copper nails can vary. For a smaller tree, about 5-6 can do the job. On the other hand, if you are dealing with a larger tree then you might need to use hundreds. In reality, the efficiency of this method and the number of nails necessary are not backed up by any reliable data.

Conclusion

A Tamarindus Indica can be killed using either the Foliar Spray technique or Basal Bark treatment when they are small and young. For a more established tree, you can go for the Cut Surface treatment.

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