Box elder problem
 

I have several acres of crp with eight year old white pine in it. The box elders are 1/2 to two inches thick. Any thoughts on best way of killing them. I was thinking of cutting them down with a chain saw and than treating the stump with chemicals. Hate to do all the work and have them come back. What chemicals will work?

RE: Box elder problem
 

I'm not sure what the rules are for CRP land, can you brush hog the box elders?

RE: Box elder problem
 

It looks like Roundup will work:

http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/pubs/iapmh/10chapter.pdf

Dan O.

RE: Box elder problem
 

Those things are thick around here. I wouldn't waste my time on cutting trees that size. A good dose of round-up should work. The conservation planI am in will allow for brush control by either spraying or mechanical means.Be sure to get the PARENT tree or else it will be an ongoing problem. The keys (seeds) that are produced by the boxelder will fly with the wind for quite a distance.

RE: Box elder problem
 

If you want to save time and a whole lot of work, you do what is called frilling the trees, You just take a hatchet and hit the tree at a downward angle, spray your round up or in my case I used 24D full strength in a hand held spray bottle and spray the cut area. Those trees will be dead in no time.
I saw it on a land managment program and did some research. For large trees you can do the same thing but it is recommended you cut all the way around the tree.

Or you could also drill a small hole in the trees and inject the round up into the holes. I prefer the cutting method, its quick and the herbicide of you choice last alot longer. Just remember to use a full concentrate to kill them for good.;)

RE: Box elder problem
 

Thanks for the replies. I don't want to spray the foilage if it will effect the pines so either cutting them off and applying to the stump or as Ironarcher recommends. The county forrester reccomended garlon and I saw on the link that Dano provided that it is poor in sensitivity. Will the round up work if I just mow them over with a chain saw and apply it full strength to the stump?

RE: Box elder problem
 

It should do it.

RE: Box elder problem
 

If you are going to apply to the stump and are using round-up or glyphosate mix it 50/50 with water. I used that mixture for a conservation practice and it worked on stumps that were one foot and larger in diameter. Also, it works best if the stump is sprayed within 30 minutes of cutting it. As the stump starts to dry it will be less effective. Don't forget that parent tree!

RE: Box elder problem
 

Could you fill me in about the "parent tree". There are hundreds of theese suckers that need killing, Is there a way of IDing it? Will there be more than one parent?............thanks, dabow

RE: Box elder problem
 

The parent tree is the tree that is responsible for the seeds that produced the seedlings. You will have to kill ALL of the boxelders or you will definitely have future problems. These trees are a pain in the arse. Good Luck!

RE: Box elder problem
 

ARSENAL in a 25% solution will work great. Using a hatchet, cut one hack at chest level at a downward angle and squirt one squirt for every 3" tree diameter at chest height. When cutting, be sure to leave the piece of wood attatched to the tree so the chemical doesn't run down the bark. I use an old 409 bottle - works great.

RE: Box elder problem
 

I was going to knock them down with the chain saw and apply roundup But now have decided to try the frilling method. That way I can leave them rot in place or remove them at my leisure. Thanks for the great tips. By the way is 24D a name brand or?...........dabow

RE: Box elder problem
 

I happen to be in the brush control business so hopefully my advice is based on real world understanding.

You have a couple alternatives to explore. I assume you do not have a restricted use permit.

1) Cut trees and treat stump. Your local coop will have or can get a product called Tordon RTU. It is not resticted and is formulated for cut stump treatments.

2) Basal Bark: You can buy a product called Crossbow. Read the label and do EXACTLY what it says in the Crossbow+Diesel Basal bark section. Basal bark involves spraying the lower 15 inches of the trunk all sides and any exposed root surfaces. This can be done any time of the yaear except when you have snow cover and will kill the tree.


Round up will not work effectively or consistantly. Arsenal would be the LAST thing Id ever use, its made for control of woody underbrush in pine plantations or in special situations ahd has many drawbacks in the hands of an amature. 2,4-D wont work.