My partner and I moved to rural Maine almost two years ago, and this spring, we noticed about eight new trees sprouting up in our backyard. After some research, I found out they are Trees of Heaven, which I've learned are quite invasive. They grew from just a few feet high to almost 8 feet tall, right in our grilling space among the native plants we've cultivated over the years. I feel like I've let them get out of hand! I bought some Triclopyr and JB Oil to spray them in a couple of weeks, but I'm looking for advice on how to manage this situation before they take over our beautiful yard.
4 Answers
Ugh, they're tough to deal with! I usually wait until late summer to start spraying so the roots don't bounce back. Just keep your eye on them, and don't hesitate to take action. The earlier you start, the better!
You're not alone; these trees can be a nightmare! I've had some luck controlling them by pulling out seedlings whenever I spot them. For the larger trees, try notching the bark in a few places and applying glyphosate—this should kill the tree in a couple of weeks so you can cut it down. Just remember, don't cut down living trees because they'll send up shoots all over the place. Here's a helpful [link](https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven) to check out for more info!
Thanks for this! I’ve been pulling young Trees of Heaven for years, and it’s good to hear how to tackle the bigger ones!
You can actually push them over really easily if they're small—you'd be surprised! Once they start sprouting green suckers, spray those with whatever herbicide you're comfortable with. Also, I've seen some folks use Triclopyr, which seems to be working for me. Just be patient and let it do its job.
They can be managed with consistent effort. Cut them down and keep pulling up any suckers that pop up. They can resprout from their roots, but if you're diligent about removing them, you'll eventually get ahead of the problem. Plus, keep an eye out for spotted lanternflies—they'll help control the Trees of Heaven population!
Great advice! Definitely kill the trees before cutting them.