How to kill, Kill, KILL Paulonia! PLEASE HELP!

[MossflowerWoods]

OK, I bought this place and it had 4-5 paulonia trees. I found them to be ugly, messy and in the way (poor choices for planing spots by prior owner).

I had the loggers remove them in Nov and I was THRILLED!

Now... GOOD GRIEF THEY ARE INVADING!!!!!

the 3 stumps in my front yard/driveway area have spawned 100's of sprouts and I cannot kill them fast enough. I've sprayed with round up (they blacken whither and come back 3 fold). I've hoed, mowed, etc.

What will KILL them.

I hate Paulonia, I hates it FOREVER!!!!

 

[Storm56]

Try some Crossbow mixed a bit on the heavy side. It is meant for "woody" plants and trees.

 

[jdonovan]

Ahhhh you have a problem.

These trees can regenerate via root/stump sprouts as you have discovered.

You are going to need to treat them with herbicides, or keep mowing the sprouts.


If the trees were still there, then you generally go after them with a basal bark spray, or hack-and-squirt. This kills them, and the roots, but might take 1-2 years for full kill. Then you can remove them via normal methods.

The invasive plants are REALLY tough to kill, and you've got to do it right, or they keep coming back.

You might have to let the root sprouts come up, and then basal-bark treat them with something like Garlon.

I'd talk to the local county forester for advice.

 

[DennisArrow]

My place is next to an old quarry. The PO thought he was doing the world a favor by throwing out seeds up the 1/2 mile road to the old quarry........WRONG.....

Have been fighting them for a couple of years now that I have owned the property and am really doing pretty well.........

On the trees that are 6 inches or so, I use the chain saw and girdle the tree. Then when the sprouts come up at the base of the tree I use a heavy duty herbicide mixed really hot to get them..........Mixed results on the sprouts but after perhaps at the most 3 times of treating them they are gone for good........

The root sprouts and seeds are another matter and again, take perhaps 3 treatments......Again, have been at this perhaps 3 years now and can foresee another 3 for total eradication...............

Meanwhile, I get the poison ivy, and other invasive pests............Good luck and just keep at it..........God bless........Dennis

 

[lockhaven]

I was told long ago that copper in a stump would kill it. my uncle would drive several pennys into a stump. I do not know if it worked or not
would be a cheap try

 

[rekees4300]

Princess Tree, Paulownia tomentosa - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual

 

[Jim Shooz]

I've got 7 left out of 11 planted. They keep dying. Splits easily but only good for kindling. Burns away to nothing very quickly, no embers next morning. Useless, but it's free

 

[jdonovan]

I was told long ago that copper in a stump would kill it. my uncle would drive several pennys into a stump. I do not know if it worked or not
would be a cheap try

Back in his day pennies were made of copper, today not so much.

 

[lockhaven]

if the copper works then use a short piece of copper water pipe

 

[jdonovan]

there is probably still some copper in that stuff.