You may have a few palm trees that have outlived their usefulness or function in your yard and are now looking to remove them. The question for first-timers is how to kill a palm tree, and how do you deal with the stump and roots?
How to Kill a Palm Tree
Here are four ways to kill a palm tree and subsequently, how to kill palm tree roots.
Chemical Injections in the Palm Tree Trunk
To carry out this palm tree-killing method you will need a drill with a suitably-sized bit, as well as the herbicide of your choice.
Some of the recommended commercial herbicide chemicals include glyphosate, triclopyr, and picloram. Alternatively, you can use household bleach or a salt-and-water solution, although the latter is non-effective against coconut palm trees.
To start, you can drill several holes into the center of the trunk that has a downward-facing angle, then pour in the solution and allow the tree to absorb it. Wait an hour or so and when the solution is gone, then repeat the injection process one or two more times (depending on the palm tree’s size).
Chemical injections will eventually kill the palm tree, which will desiccate and die. From here, you should be able to remove the tree and its roots easily using standard gardening equipment.
Kill a Palm Tree by Girdling
Girdling is an effective way to kill a large palm tree. It’s a process of cutting off vital nutrient pathways, essentially giving the palm tree a limited time to live. Girdling involves removing a significant ring of bark anywhere between four to eight inches in width to weaken it and hasten the plant’s mortality.
You’ll want to use a chainsaw, hatchet, or a hammer and chisel for this method. Stand directly ahead of the palm tree’s trunk and proceed to remove a ring of bark. Make sure that you complete the circle or else it won’t be effective.
By girdling the palm tree you cut off the flow of nutrients, and the plant will eventually turn brown and die. As a side note, you can spray herbicide or bleach onto the exposed bark rings to accelerate the process.
Cut the Tree and Remove the Stump
Sometimes the old ways are still the best, and when it comes to killing a palm tree and its roots you can certainly give the ‘cut and remove stump’ technique a try.
You can use a chainsaw or ax to bring the tree down, then apply your preferred herbicide to kill the stump and its roots. Use a shovel and dig up a small circumference around the stump to loosen the soil, then dig under to ease the roots off.
This palm tree-killing method may sound easy, but you will have to be careful throughout the process. If the palm tree is tall or large then it may be wiser to get professional help.
Spray a Foliar Herbicide
If your palm tree is less than ten feet tall, then you can treat it with herbicide via a foliar spray application.
You can use the recommended herbicides to kill a palm tree and spray it directly on the leaves for the chemical to take effect. You will need to plan ahead to do this, however, since the solution can get to your other plants and surroundings. The best time to spray foliar herbicide is during windless days and in the late afternoon or early evening.
How to Kill Palm Tree Roots
There are several ways to remove palm tree roots in your yard or property after killing the tree.
The first method is by getting a shovel and digging up the roots. Form a trench around the stump, and then sever the roots using a hatchet or saw that’s coming from it. Shake out the remaining soil and dispose of the roots properly.
Also, you can get a stump grinder to eliminate the remaining palm tree material and turn it into mulch. Last but not least, you can cover the roots with landscape fabric, old cardboard boxes, or newspapers to remove their source of energy.
After a week or so, the roots should be dead and quite easy to remove via a shovel. To accelerate the process you can pour boiling water over the roots once or twice.
Related Article: How to Stop Small Trees Growing Back