5 Best Herbicides for Willows

For their graceful shape and ability to grow in poorly drained soils, willow trees (Salix spp.) are often valued specimens in natural landscapes, particularly near water features. Willow trees are also famous for their abundant root systems that can infiltrate leach fields, raise roads, destroy buildings and even interfere with yard maintenance.

But also the willow tree’s roots may often become destructive, causing harm to the base and sewer lines of the house. Several herbicides available to customers can get the job done anytime you try to get rid of an unwanted willow tree.

So if you need a reliable herbicide for willows, read the following guide. The buyer’s guide and comparison table are quite useful for novice gardeners who want to deal with willows effectively.

Spectracide HG-66420 Stump Remover– the best for natural decomposition!

Spectracide Stump Remover provides the decomposition of the treated stump. It is available in granules, leaving the willow trunk porous. It can be quickly extracted or burned until the stump has become brittle.

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It may take multiple weeks or months to decompose, depending on the scale of the stump. Against a few small stumps, it can be quite successful.

For other seeds, grass, and vegetation, this herbicide is healthy to use. The extra expense is insignificant since the Spectracide Stump Remover is so inexpensive.

BioAdvanced 704655A Brush Killer Plus– the best for the wide application!

Another formula utilizing Triclopyr that destroys plants to the root is BioAdvanced Brush Killer, but they can’t develop up again. About 70+ popular plants it’s supposed to take care of. Triclopyr is the active ingredient of this chemical.

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It is quite powerful to destroy roots and stumps, so you can get rid of willows, Poison Ivy and don’t have to worry about them growing back easily.

This package contains one gallon of weed killer, and it can be ordered with a sprayer that makes it simple to paint the weeds, and they can almost immediately die down. This product can be applied in dry weather.

Bonide 274 728639280241 Vine & Stump Killer– the best for ease of use!

Available in an 8-ounce container, the Bonide 274 product provides a remedy that removes tree stumps and even eradicates troublesome vines.

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To guarantee that the solution destroys stumps easily, this weed killer has a brush applicator. When used on a freshly cut stump, this remedy performs better. To destroy less hardy trees, but it can be deluded, you may need to add this solvent, undeluded, to the uncovered inner zone of the tree stump for better effects.

This herbicide comes with an attached brush-top. It is quick to spread and seeps deeply into the base of the stub of the tree, destroying it from the inside out. This economical and reliable approach avoids any regrowth or tree sprouts.

PBI/Gordon Stump Killer Ready-to-Use– the best for preventing re-growth!

The PBI/Gordon Stump Killer Ready-to-Use tool, available from Amazon, quickly and efficiently facilitates the removal of tree stumps.

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This approach, offered in a 32-ounce bottle, features a direct application, enabling you to get to work and saving time for other garden activities.

This tree stump killer was built to the base, not only at the surface stage, to destroy tree stumps.

It comes in a squirt container, the best part of this piece. This application method ensures that to bring the fluid further into the interior of the willow branches, you can conveniently add it to some parts of the tree or even dig holes into the stump.

Scotch Brand Scotch 1885 LB Root Destroyer– the best for the application timing!

A twice-per-year application for tree and roots disrupting drainage pipes is the Root Killer. The roots will die and continue to rot after the roots have absorbed ample copper sulfate and the flow of water will increase.

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After plant development starts, applications may be rendered twice a year in the spring, either during late summer or early fall, or every time a decreased water flow assumed to be induced by root growth arises. For longer-lasting results, the Instant Power Root Destroyer offers the largest copper sulfate concentration.

To efficiently eliminate deep down to the roots of willow trees in drainage pipes, Root Destroyer offers effective copper sulfate crystals. It is built for hassle-free weed control.

The Buyer’s Guide

Active components:

• Glyphosate. It destroys annual/perennial weeds as well as woody and broadleaf plants. Glyphosate is healthy to use on lawns, vegetables and habitats and, if ingested, touched or inhaled, has a low toxicity risk for mammals. Generally, in a water-soluble concentrate that needs blending or as a ready-to-spray solution, you can buy glyphosate;
• 2, 4-D. This selective herbicide is used without destroying grass to destroy broad-leaf weeds and undesirable broad-leaf plants. The systemic herbicide can be used on seeds, lawns and marine areas, and contributes to rapid cell division, triggering irregular plant development. If the chemical falls in contact with the wanted plant, it can also affect many types of broadleaf weeds;
• Triclopyr. For broadleaf weeds and trees, you may use another selective herbicide. If the required rate and application of the chemical are used, it will not affect grass or conifers. In open pastures, woodland, ditches not used for drainage and places where no crops are present, this herbicide is widely used;

How to use herbicides for willows?

If the tree is low, spray the herbicide that covers the whole foliage of the willow before the leaves start to drip away from the solvent. For bigger willow trees, using a chainsaw, break off the upper and lower limbs and cut the trunk as near to the ground as practicable. With the herbicide, spray the willow tree stub completely.

Alternatively, by cutting a 2 to 3-inch-wide strip across the whole trunk, through the bark, girdle the big willow tree and paint the weed killer over the cut areas. Different herbicide applications could be required to destroy the tree.

Tree location

You should consider the position of the tree stump you intend to destroy. Tree stump killers are effective chemicals that can damage any suitable vegetation that you may have. While some products are safe for grass and flowers, when applying the solution to the desired plants, it is often better to be cautious.

Application methods:

• Drilling holes and then applying the herbicide straight to the tree’s stump;
• Adding the chemical to the cut stump;
• Applying the remedy on the leaves and roots;

FAQ

Does 2,4-D kill willows?

Yes, products containing the herbicide active ingredient “24-D” are effective at killing willow trees. You can find 24-D in many commercially available herbicides, including Roundup and Ortho GroundClear. When used as directed, these products will kill willows quickly and efficiently.

If you’re looking for a more natural option, consider vinegar. Vinegar is a weak acid that can kill willows by causing them to dehydrate. However, it’s important to note that vinegar is less effective than 24-D and will take longer to kill a willow tree.

How do you control willows?

The most common method of willow control is mechanical removal. This can be done with a shovel, an ax, or even a chainsaw, depending on the size of the tree. However, this is not always possible or practical, especially if the willows are growing in an area that is difficult to access. In these cases, herbicides can be used to kill the willows without harming the surrounding vegetation.

There are several different herbicides that can be used to control willows, but not all of them are equally effective. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that is often used to kill willows, but it is not always 100% effective.

Video Tutorial: Using Stump-Out to remove our tree stump.

Final thoughts

Now you know what herbicides for willows can cope with these trees for good. Make sure to read the buyer’s guide and comparison table prior to using any new product. Willows can be effectively destroyed by these solutions.