Tree Removal Methods

1
Tree Removal Methods

• Mechanical and Herbicides

2
Mechanical

• Felling
• Not always practical if large numbers of trees
  must be removed
• Can damage residual trees
• Brush saw for small stems, brush

3
Mechanical

• Girdling
• Double girdle 1 in. deep spaced 6 in. apart
• Later winter, early spring during sap rise
• Diffuse porous species are poor candidates unless
  herbicide is used

4
Mechanical

• Mechanized removal
• Brush Hog
• Small trees and brush

5
Mechanical

• Mechanized removal
• Tracked feller buncher
• Rotating cab with hinged arm
• Steep, uneven terrain
• Hydrostatic feller buncher
• Easily maneuverable
• Plantations
• 3-wheeled feller buncher
• Lightweight
• Flat terrain

6
Herbicides

• Why herbicide?
• Site preparation
• Woody release
• Herbaceous release
• Mid-rotation release
• Right-of-way maintenance

7
Herbicides

• Possible impacts
• Can cause damage to crop trees
• Mechanical methods also damage trees!
• Flashback herbicide released by a targeted tree
  becomes available for uptake by another
• Non-target organisms
• Soil and water quality

8
Herbicides

• What is needed
• Carrier (water or oil)
• Herbicide
• Adjuvant (increases effectiveness)
• Surfactants
• Buffers
• Ammonium salts

9
Types of Herbicides

• Imazapyr
• Chopper - BASF Ester formulation
• Arsenal AC -BASF Amine formulation
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Imidazolinone family
• Inhibits branched amino acid synthesis
• Glyphosate
• Roundup (not registered for forestry) - Monsanto
• Accord DowAgro
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Rodeo Monsanto (aquatic label)
• Various generics
• Family of its own
• Inhibits aromatic amino acid synthesis

10
Types of Herbicides

• Triclopyr - DowAgro
• Garlon 4 DowAgro Ester
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Garlon 3A DowAgro Amine
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Pyridinecarboxylic acid family
• Behaves like auxin (IAA)
• Over stimulates cell metabolism

11
Types of Herbicides

• Hexazinone - DuPont
• Velpar L Liquid
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Velpar ULW Granule
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Oustar ( sulfometuron) Soluble granules
• Triazine family
• Inhibits photosynthesis by blocking electron
  transport which leads to lipid peroxidation and
  cellular disintegration

12
Types of Herbicides

• Sulfometuron - DuPont
• Oust XP
• Sulfonylurea family
• Inhibits branched amino acid synthesis
• Metsulfuron - DuPont
• Escort XP
• Release pine from hardwoods
• Sulfonylurea family
• Inhibits branched amino acid synthesis

13
Types of Herbicides

• Clopyralid
• Transline DowAgro
• Pyridinecarboxylic acid family
• Behaves like auxin (IAA)
• Over stimulates cell metabolism
• Effective only on composites and legumes
• 2,4-D
• Various brands (read the label)
• Phenoxyacetic acid family
• Behaves like auxin (IAA)
• Over stimulates cell metabolism

14
Types of Herbicides

• Picloram
• Tordon - Dow-Agro
• Various formulations
• Pyridinecarboxylic acid family
• Behaves like auxin (IAA)
• Over stimulates cell metabolism
• Long Residual

15
Herbicides

• Surfactants
• Entry II (ethoxylated tallow amine)
• Original Surfactant in Roundup
• Excellent safety on pine
• Cannot penetrate the cuticle of pine but can
  hardwood
• Used for Release
• Timbersurf 90
• NU-FILM-IR
• Sun-it II (methoxylated sunflower oil)

16
Herbicides

• Aerial/mechanized applications
• Large stands of invasives
• Hardwoods in pine plantations
• Site preparation
• Type/quantity used varies with target species
• Ex. 12 fl. oz. Arsenal AC 1.6 fl. oz.
  surfactant in water 5 GPA for aerial conifer
  release treatment

17
Herbicides

• Backpack applicators
• Foliar spray
• Glyphosate at 2-4 solution based on target
  species
• Basal bark application
• Soak lower stem and root collar
• Dye increases accuracy of application
• Most effective on stems lt 6 in. DBH
• 25 Garlon 4 solution in diesel fuel

18
Herbicides

• Cut surface methods
• Hack and squirt
• Hypo hatchet
• Avoid use in early spring, sap flow blocks
  absorption
• Garlon 3A or Roundup Pro in complete ax frill
  (pure solution or 50 dilution

19
Herbicides

• Cut surface methods
• Basal tree injectors
• ½ mL of Garlon 3A at each injector site, 2-3
  between wounds
• Avoid use during early spring

20
Herbicide

• Cut surface methods
• Cut stump application
• Prevents stump sprouting
• For small stems treat entire stump, gt 3 outer
  edge is sufficient
• 20 glyphosate solution

21
Herbicide

• Granular herbicides
• Soil active, enter through root systems
• Some prevent germination
• Site prep, conifer management
• Aerial or ground applications
• Gridballs
• Large pellet
• Distributed on predetermined grid system
• Brush and undesirable species control
• Plantations

22
Pruning

• Branches should be pruned as close to the trunk
  as possible without damaging the branch collar
  and branch bark ridge.

23
Pruning

• Improper technique
• Flush cuts
• Damage stem tissue
• Poor woundwood coverage
• Branch stubs
• Woundwood must cover entire stub
• Slow to heal
• Entry for pathogens

24
Pruning

• Pruning large branches
• 3 cuts
• 1. shallow notch on underside of branch
• 2. remove branch outside of first cut
• 3. remove remaining stub outside of branch
  collar/branch bark ridge
• Prevents bark ripping damage

25
Pruning

• Always prune live branches during the dormant
  season
• Maximize wound closure
• Reduce chance of transmitting disease
• Discourage excessive sap flow from wounds
• Dead branches may be pruned any time of year