Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Tree removal

I need to remove a number of willows along the banks of my now full pond. I wanted to wait until the pond was full as opposed to easily removing the trees during the 12 month period while waiting for rain to fill the new pond up. I enjoy a challenge, others might consider this procrastination. I especially enjoy working in 100+ degree Texas heat.

My question for the pond gurus is should I apply Round-Up(or similar glyphosate) on the trees, wait for them to die and then chain-saw them, or simply chain saw them now.

Thanks, my chainsaw is ready either way.

Green wood is easier to cut. How big are the trees? In my experience it is hard to kill a big tree with roundup but I have never tried it on a willow.

Just cut them now and don't spray roundup. What is the plan to handle the stumps? I would spray the cut stump with Pathway (or TORDON RTU) to kill the roots, otherwise you will have tons of sprouts. You need to spray right after cutting the stump. Be careful to not get this in the water. If they are real close to the water I wouldn't do this.

It may not be necessary to spray anything, but I would chain saw them off at 2-3 feet now, then apply full strength
Remedy with a paintbrush to the cut surface.. Wait until the roots die off( this winter) and I believe they will be easier to pull out with a tractor..du

Spray them with Habitat. That killed every willow we had plus it is water approved and will kill a lot of other nuisance plants like cattails etc. It can be used in the methods set out above also.

http://www.cdms.net/LDat/ld6H2000.pdf

Eric, spray, let them die then cut?

Their location precludes any type of stump removal due to bank steepness.

Habitat is great stuff, I'd go with Eric's idea.

Mike, how big are they?

If you cut them about knee high,drag the tree out of the way and finish cutting it up,your halfway there.You then take a sharpshooter or posthole digger and dig right next to the stump about 3 ft down.Next insert 2 stcks dynamite and viola,no stumps AND instant pond structure.Note,if you dont want the structure and your nieghbor does,(or doesnt and you dont like him)use 4 sticks.
Sigh,sometimes life is just too simple.

DD1, the trees aren't too big, I can almost fit my hand around them.

TomG, dynamite is a little old school, I thought very seriously about some det cord and a very small amount of C4. The right application of demo solves many of life's problems.

However, I don't want to disrupt the bank area for a variety of reasons.

Sheesh,another guy after my heart.

[Insert appropriate one-word Sunil comment here.)

Mike, I've killed a lot of willows with Remedy. You can buy it at Berend Brothers in Bowie.

As a foliar, I've mixed it about 1.5 cupfuls to 15 gallons of water. I have been successful by just using dish soap as a surfactant. It isn't the recommended stuff but it worked for me. Sometimes I've had to hit it a second time but not often.

Or, if you cut it down, mix about 1:3 with diesel and drench the stump.

I've had no problems with fish kills. Your mileage may vary.

DD1, I usually go by Dennis' Farm supply in Denton for herbicide and really just to listen to Dennis opin on various subjects. He said the same thing, mix Remedy with diesel and hit the stump.

My face must have dropped a bit, because in his colorful, profane manner he advised the F****** diesel wouldn't hurt the g****** fish one bit. "In fact when I used to run old man's so and so 8 acre lake off of Hwy 380, we'd pour in 10 gallons of diesel every June to keep the mosquitos away." I fished that particular lake and caught a 8 lb bass, so I know there's fish in it.

I guess I'll stick with the soapdish/water, Remedy or Habitat if I can find some. Of course, I'll have to listen to Dennis question my manhood when I go back to the store if I admit to not using diesel.

FYI, he owns http://www.mbsseed.com in denton, has great wildlife and psture grass mixes.