I had a stand of about a hundred 1-2" diameter chinese tallow trees growing on the bank of a small pond. While the water is low this winter, my nephew chopped them down very close to the ground, but I want to make sure they don't come back. Any ideas for something to spray on the stumps to knock them out for good? In my experience, they come back readily with shoots from the stumps. There are frogs, fish, and who knows what else living in the pond, and I hate to endanger the wildlife. Is round-up safe around ponds? I think I've read that it breaks down into organic compounds in soil, but I'm not sure about using it near water. Thanks for any help you can provide.
chinese tallow tree eradication
I've been battling these things for years. The best advice I can give is to cut them even or lower than ground level and cut as many roots possible. Dig up the smaller trees if possible.
Once they have been cut you can spray or paint them with Garlon 3A or Arsenal AC (neither of which are cheap!). Cover the holes the best you can with dirt and keep the area mowed very low, they will sprout from the roots until all of tree's energy have been exhausted. The seedlings you will battle with for a couple years. You can pull them by hand weekly or simply mow them.
Since you mentioned a pond is involved you may need to talk with your county agent or Texas A&M about how safe spraying will be.
This spring I will be bringing down the last few that are on my property. Trust me, they can be controlled but you have to be ready to put some time and money into it. Fourtunately yours are still small.
Thanks for the advice. My place is north of Houston, so we're actually in the same zone. I wish I had acted sooner, but at least I've got a start. Good luck with the last of yours. If I never see another tallow tree, it will be too soon!
I agree!
Good luck, I live in Mobile Al. this tree named popcorn tree down here. I let 2 grow when they came up from seed because with our weather we get very little fall color and these put on a nice show. If I had only known then what I know now..... Last year I started a fair size 50'x18' ornamental garden with the Tallow front row center. After tilling and prepping the soil, my god, I've never pulled up so many seedlings in all of my years put together. Then I find out the seeds stay viable up to 30 or more years. I dug and chopped wheel barrow after barrow of roots, I am going to check with our Ag. Extension Rep. and over plant it with Kudzu, Asiatic Jasmine, Climbing Japanese fern, autum clematis, Coral Trumpet vine,Virginia Creeper,Ivy and see who wins.JIMT.
I'd lay odds on the popcorn tree winning, lol!
The rest of mine are supposed to get taken down on Monday. Then I'll get to spend a couple more years battling the root & stumps and seedlings.
When I had the two big ones taken out I spent the whole summer and fall pulling seedlings. It was common to collect 100 at a time.
JCalhoon, You may be right but i'll enjoy the fight over the next couple a years.JIMT.
The last of the popcorn trees and privets were cut and hauled off yesterday!!!!!
Halelujah! :) Rejoicing with you!
Thanks!
Good Luck JCalhoon..Let me know about the seeds left behind. Ouch! my back! I pulled till I was bored stiff today.JimT.
Will do.
I have already pulled about thirty seedlings from the front yard this spring. They were dropped from the two trees that were cut and ground last spring.