How to Get Rid of Mimosa Trees
The mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin), sometimes referred to as a Persian silk tree or a silky acacia, is a thin ornamental that may grow as tall as 40 feet. The tree is typically planted for ornamental purposes thanks to its fragrant white flowers. The mimosa tree can sometimes become an invasive pest, spreading its seed and multiplying rapidly. Get rid of your current mimosa trees before they become a problem. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Pull out the mimosa tree. This option is best for seedlings and saplings of a maximum height of two feet. Put on gloves. Get into a squatting position as if you were riding a horse. Grab the mimosa tree with two hands near the sapling's base and pull the plant out of the ground. Discard the plant or add it to your compost or mulch pile.
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Spray the mimosa tree with a systemic broad spectrum herbicide. This option works best for mimosa trees of a height where you can still reach the top of the tree, whether on foot or on a ladder. Spray all exposed surfaces of the mimosa tree with the herbicide. The tree will die within 14 days, after which you may chop it down.
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Plan how to chop down the mimosa tree. This is the ideal option if you want to remove a mature mimosa tree that is too large for herbicide treatment or manual uprooting. Survey the area and choose a direction that you wish the tree to fall. This area should be clear of obstacles such as cars, garden beds and physical structures.
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Use an axe and cut a horizontal line into the side of the mimosa tree toward which you want it to collapse. Slice a third of the way into the tree. Make another cut six inches above the first cut on the same side of the tree. Angle the cut downward at a 45 degree angle and chop so that the second cut meets the first cut. Remove the piece of tree, leaving a triangle-shaped notch in the mimosa.
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Slice a third cut into the mimosa tree on the opposite side of the first two cuts. This cut should be halfway in height between the first and second cut. Leave a width of approximately 15 percent of the tree's diameter between the edge of the third cut and the point of the original triangle cut. The tree begins to lean and crash.
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Coat the remaining mimosa tree stump with a chemical stump killer solution. This kills the tree's underground root network, an essential precaution to prevent the hardy mimosa from growing back.
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Tips & Warnings
Take steps to get rid of mimosa trees when they are juvenile to avoid the hassle of removing larger trees.
