The trick to using Tordon RTU is NOT to spray it. Get a small can and a small paint brush. Cut the tree, immediately paint the cut portion of the stump. Don't pour the stuff on, just paint it on the cut area. Kills the tree and I haven't seen any issues using it near a pond, even a pond with trout in it. In that application it was used on a weeping willow tree that was about 18" DBH and the roots from the tree were like FA on that side of the pond IN the water.
"The solution to pollution is dilution." You are only putting enough Tordon out to kill the target tree, not the whole area.
I use Tordon all the time, and my experiences are like Scott's. Treat the clean cut stump, not the the greenery. The stump cut should be as level as possible, and there's very little waste, so one bottle lasts a long time.If it's applied immediately after the cut, the trunk absorbs it very quickly.
