How to Remove Poplar Trees
The poplar is a type of tree common in North America. Widely used in landscaping for its tall height and symmetrical shape, the poplar can also be invasive due to its ability to grow new trees from its expansive root system. Thus, some home owners and landscapers may wish to remove it. Learn how to remove poplar trees safely and effectively while making sure no new trees grow from its stump and roots. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Survey the area. Look for potential obstacles, such as a utility pole or a parked vehicle. Look at the tree and check for any leaning, as cutting it so that it falls in the direction it naturally leans is best.
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Select a path along which you want the poplar to fall that is clear of obstacles. Also look for a way to exit the area once the tree starts falling.
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Put on your protective eyewear, hardhat and gloves. Turn on the chainsaw and rev it to warm up its engine. Use the chainsaw to carve a V-shaped notch into the side of the tree that is on the same side as the direction you want the poplar to fall. Carve the notch to a depth of approximately a fourth of the poplar's total diameter, being careful not to cut all the way through the tree's trunk.
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Slice a cut with the chainsaw on the opposite side of the poplar from the V-shaped notch. This cut should be two to three inches above the previous notch. Cut gradually an inch at a time, but never cut all the way through the tree. As you cut, the poplar will start leaning in the direction of the V-shaped notch. Turn off your chain saw and exit the area along your pre-selected exit route as soon as the tree starts leaning. The poplar will continue leaning before finally crashing down.
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Return to the tree after it has fallen. Use the chainsaw to remove the poplar's limbs from the main trunk, then cut the trunk into small pieces so you can easily transport the fallen tree away.
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Apply stump killer herbicide to the poplar's stump. Examples of stump killer include Bionide and Green Light 40004. Some stump killers must be painted on with a rag or paint brush, while others are sprayed on. Consult the chemical's manufacturer's directions for product-specific guidelines. The solution kills the poplar so that it does not start growing back, a common problem due to the tree's hardiness. It also kills the poplar's invasive root system, ensuring that new saplings do not spring up from the tree's buried roots.
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Tips & Warnings
Some baby poplars may spring up from the original tree's underground roots if its root network was extensive and the stump killer didn't reach all of it. These young saplings are easy to kill by applying a broad-leaf herbicide spray such as Trimec.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Arsel --zgürdal/sxc.hu
