Advice needed, how to kill a tree!!!!!!!!!!

[Trunks]

Evening all,

I know this question goes against all of our "bushcraft" ideals but...

... A few years ago, the council felled a tree adjacent to our boundary wall - they left just the stump in place. But every year this thing sends out new shoots which are now in danger of pulling the drystone wall down.

If i ring the council, they will just dig the whole thing up, causing massive damage to both the wall & the surrounding plants.

Is there a "safer" way that i can kill of the tree?

 

[mountainm]

Depends on the tree. Sycamore and Elder are bloomin' pains in the bum to get rid of. But if you don't want to resort to chemicals then drill lots of deep holes in the stump to encourage rot.

 

[HillBill]

Best to drill the holes and pour weed killer or something similar down them.

 

[British Red]

The drilling and kiilling works - get something like "stump killer" and drill multiple holes. If you have a chainsaw, put deep vertical cuts in a square near the bark and fill with the killer, then cover with plastic to keep the rain off.

Chopping out the roots works - but they may be under the wall.

Stump grinding can be done in a tight space with minimal disturbance - can be spendy

 

[Shewie]

The drilling and kiilling works - get something like "stump killer" and drill multiple holes. If you have a chainsaw, put deep vertical cuts in a square near the bark and fill with the killer, then cover with plastic to keep the rain off.

My dad did this to a tree which over hung his garden in Portugal, apparently the whole tree turned black and was dead within a couple of weeks. He used a cordless drill and a bottle of neat weed killer.

 

[Samon]

I heard creasote substitude poured down thick deep drilled holes of the tree, but i guess the pure weed killer would be better. could always by a beaver?

 

[lannyman8]

big old copper spike, but that takes a long time, castic soda kills most things, but be carefull if you use it, it can burn the skill badly........

 

[lannyman8]

oh almost forgot C4 works well too.....

 

[JAG009]

Sneek up on it and shoot it !

Jason

 

[Samon]

try p'ing on it. wont do much..but its fun :3

 

[Samon]

or..pay some kids to egg and shout abuse at it, few weeks and that tree will leave town mate!

 

[Samon]

what about making inappropriate advances on it in the office, you know..a few comments here and there maybe a bum pinch at the coffee machine. itll move departments soon after.

(couldn't resist one more, hehe)

 

[ged]

oh almost forgot C4 works well too.....

Just over 40 years ago my mates and I put a 10lb charge under a stump that was sticking out of the bank of a pond. The stump flew clean over a wood which contained some very large trees and landed in the next field, unluckily right next to the farmer who was ploughing it at the time. We were all given the rollocking of our lives but it could have been so much worse...

 

[Samon]

Just over 40 years ago my mates and I put a 10lb charge under a stump that was sticking out of the bank of a pond. The stump flew clean over a wood which contained some very large trees and landed in the next field, unluckily right next to the farmer who was ploughing it at the time. We were all given the rollocking of our lives but it could have been so much worse...

you were using high explosives on stumps..and nearly killed a farmer..only getting a rollocking sounds pretty light haha!

 

[santaman2000]

The drilling & filling should work but I have to pose another question. Will the dead stump then attract termites or other pests? If so having the councel dig it out might be the wiser thing to do. If their is no danger of attracting the pests (or if they could cause no damage) then go with the drill & fill.

 

[Samon]

The drilling & filling should work but I have to pose another question. Will the dead stump then attract termites or other pests? If so having the councel dig it out might be the wiser thing to do. If their is no danger of attracting the pests (or if they could cause no damage) then go with the drill & fill.

termites?..in england? highly unlikely mate. the stump should be fine aslong as cats or children dont lick it after its been poisoned.

 

[HillBill]

Just over 40 years ago my mates and I put a 10lb charge under a stump that was sticking out of the bank of a pond. The stump flew clean over a wood which contained some very large trees and landed in the next field, unluckily right next to the farmer who was ploughing it at the time. We were all given the rollocking of our lives but it could have been so much worse...

Classic

10lbs though? Nice bit of overkill there Ged

 

[swyn]

My dad took out a few stumps in the 1970's using dynamite. This was a normal thing to do then and there was always the urge to put in a little more than necessary!
I ended up with a hole in my bedroom celing and a piece of Elm stump on the floor!

I would go with the 'chemical route' and try to use a solution aimed at 'woody' weeds such as brambles. The commercial version of this is 24-D.
Do as Red has suggested with a chainsaw or an auger type drill and fill slots/holes.
Swyn.

 

[mrmike]

Surely the best option it to get the council to dig it out. If they damage the wall they are obliged to fix it.

 

[Melonfish]

Drill some holes just deep enough to get to the cambium layer and weed killer it. should soon die off.
alternatively contact the council and inform them that their tree is causing damage to your property.