JNJ wrote:

My yard is infested with Ailanthus Altissima, and I want it gone. I have
been told that it's virtually impossible to kill, and it would appear to

be

so thus far. Others have recommended measures that include flamethrowers

and

bulldozers, however, not having access to either and not having a source

for

agent orange I'm casting about for advice.

Has anyone fought this insidiously and perniciously invasive plant and

won?

Sorry Amy -- it's time to move to a new home.

I've been fighting it down here by simply keeping after it and cutting it
down. On a whim I tried some RoundUp on it in an area I'm killing off the
vegetation -- it is responding believe it or not. My latest solution is
going to involve attaching something to the chopped off trunk that remains
in the ground, filling it with RoundUp, and letting it soak into the trunk
for a few days such that it will hopefully work its way into the plant.

This plant is so resilient that after cutting it into little pieces and
putting it into the garbage can I noticed that the pieces of trunk IN THE
CAN were sprouting new growth -- after 1 week the new growth was sprouting
new growth. (No soil contact mind you.) It has to be one of the most
amazing growers I have ever seen.

James



See if you can find "Garlon". It contains triclopyr, about 3x the strength
of Brush B Gone. Apply it full strength with a brush to the cut surface.
I can't remember whether Garlon 3E or Garlon 4 is the better formulation
for this use.

Roundup "super concentrate" should work if you use it undiluted on the
fresh cut stumps, but it's not as effective as the selective broadleaf
herbicides.

If there's a farm supply store near you, you may can find a quart of 46%
2,4-d amine for just a few dollars. The bottle I bought at Fleet Farm is
Gordon's brand. You can kill a lot of stumps with a quart of that stuff,
but I've never tried it on ailanthus. Still, it ought to work better than
the Roundup.

Best regards,
Bob