You might be wondering why you would need to kill a tree, but there are many reasons why it has to be done! The fig trees, also known as the Ficus Carica is one of many trees under the Moraceae family. These trees don’t necessarily grow big but they can cause a lot of problems. One thing you might want to do to get rid of it is to kill it.
If you are wondering how to kill a fig tree and trying to find some methods that actually work, then you are at the right place. But killing a fig tree depends on several variables like your location, the permission of killing a fig tree in your area, your surroundings, and the best method that would work for you. Let’s delve into the main topic of our discussion!
Key Takeaways
- Fig trees have many stories and stereotypical thinking surrounding them. Many people want to get rid of a fig tree depending on those stereotypical thoughts.
- There are certain reasons you might want to kill a fig tree, those can include having a cat or dog in the house, having energy, concerning landscape change, and ecosystem problems.
- There are many methods of killing a fig tree, the 10 best methods of those have been described for you to find the best one according to your choice.
- Killing a small fig tree can be very easy and the process can be done just by opting for simple steps.
- Killing bigger fig trees requires a little more extra effort and the best method can be cutting the roots to stop nutrient supply.
Why Kill A Fig Tree?
Well for those who do not understand why killing a fig tree has so much buzz, this is actually something that is not that easy to remove in some cases. Also, you might want to kill a fig tree for some of the reasons below.
Fig trees can hamper other plants’ growth and prevent them from growing. Sometimes fig trees can damage the landscape of your area. Every part of this tree is poisonous for cats and dogs. So if you have a cat or a dog you would want to get rid of a fig tree as soon as possible. Fig trees have a tendency to compete with other plants for natural resources and nutrients. Because of being invasive fig trees can be harmful to the ecosystem. Fig trees grow an enormous amount of fruits and consumption of this in huge quantities can cause harmful effects to your body and these fruits can totally create a mess in your garden.
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10 Ways to Kill A Fig Tree
When you have decided to kill your fig tree and don’t know where to start and how to carry out the whole process, here are 10 ways to kill a fig tree for your rescue.
1. Girdling the fig tree
This is a very common method to kill a tree. By girdling a fig tree it is meant to cut a ring around the trunk. This is a natural method that has been in practice for years to remove a tree. When girdling a fig tree remember to cut 2 to 4 inches deep cuts around the entire body of the fig tree. Well, remember to go inside the phloem and make deeper cuts so the transportation system of the whole fig tree will be cut off. To be very precise and also to make sure the killing process you will need to cut off all the layers such as Bark, cambium, xylem, and phloem. Make sure to cut through the entire circumference. If it has not been cut down entirely then the fig tree can recover itself. Do not hesitate to cut the exposed roots of the fig tree. To girdle use a sharp tool and carefully scrape 1 to 2 inches deep and 4 to 8 inches wide. After some time, the fig tree’s tissues will turn white and generously apply poison to that area. Then you can observe the deterioration of the fig tree.
2. Using a chainsaw
This is a method that is kind of similar to girdling but here you have to use a chainsaw and remove the whole tree cutting it down from the root. Cutting the tree down will expose the inner parts of a fig tree and you will see the inside tissues. This method will be perfect for a big size of the fig tree. After the tissues are exposed you can apply herbal medicine or some kind of poison to the exposed area. This will deteriorate the fig tree. While using a chainsaw to cut down a fig tree, make sure to consider your surroundings and most appropriately seek help from others. Ting up the fig tree branches or the body with rope and pulling it slowly towards the ground works best to make sure it would not fall over any structure.
3. Grinding the fig tree
If you got a big fig tree that has roots in the soil and you are intending to get rid of any traces as soon as possible. Then grinding is a method that would give you results within a day. But this method requires an understanding of grinding and someone who is a professional to carry out the task completely. This method grinds and breaks apart every piece of the wood of a fig tree and completely vanishes it from the soil using a rotating blade. To grind out a fig tree it is better to hire a professional through rent and not try it if you have no previous experience in grinding.
4. Pulling out of the ground
Pulling the fig tree out of the soil completely is the best way to get rid of any of the remaining but as easy and effective as it might sound this is a work of labor. If you are willing to take some hands to pull the fig tree out of the soil completely then you can forward with this method. Pulling all the roots and the whole tree would not be an easy task and might take some time to carry the whole process but the results will definitely be satisfactory. To pull the fig tree out of the soil start watering the soil around the fig tree from a couple of days prior. Try to drench the soil completely with water and water more aggressively the day before you intend to pull the tree out. This way will have soft soil making the fig tree pulling a little easier. Before you are trying to pull the whole tree out try cutting some of the stems and at least half of the fig tree. This would make the pulling of fig tree roots much easier. Use excavation tools such as a shovel and carefully dig out the soil around to expose fig tree roots.
5. Using vinegar
Vinegar can work as a natural herbicide to remove weeds from your garden. But if you want to kill a fig tree with vinegar you will need a strong variety of vinegar, most appropriately a horticulture vinegar. Vinegar contains acetic acid which is a combination of 4 acids and is prepared by fermentation of those acids. This process gives vinegar a powerful acidic ability. Normal vinegar used in households or the removal of weeds contains 4 to 8% of acetic acids whereas horticulture vinegars have a 20% of acetic acids. This will burn the leaves and roots when applied to a tree. Herbicide vinegar works best in humid conditions. When applying to a tree to kill it from the roots try applying on a sunny day when there is no possibility of raid or heavy wind. This condition and contact with the sun will increase the burn of the fig tree leaves and roots. This method works best for fig trees that are still very young or medium in size. The vinegar put into the soil affects the overall PH level of the soil creating an imbalance that affects the fig tree’s growth. To apply vinegar in the fig tree, drill some holes in the fig tree so there will be some exposed area and apply vinegar in that area. Pour the horticulture vinegar in a generous amount into the fig tree roots and the stems. Be sure to keep children are your eyes safe from this kind of vinegar.
6. Applying rock salt
Using rock salt can kill fig trees by drawing moisture and nutrients out of the tree. This a very effective low-cost method. For this to work you would have to put a generous amount of rock salt around the tree and the surrounding area. For applying rock salt dig up some holes around the soil of the fig tree, those should be deep enough. That way salting would directly affect the fig tree’s roots and draw out all the moisture of the root making the tree dry and eventually killing it. The process starts with creating some holes around the fig tree and also creating some holes in the tree itself. Pour a liberal amount of rock salt into those holes to make sure the fig tree will absorb that salt. Apply some water to the salt for it to dissolve a little bit. For making sure the salt will stay around the fig tree for a long time apply a cover on top. Be mindful of the fact that salt will not only dry out the fig tree but also will kill any other trees surrounding that.
7. Epsom salt
If you are trying to speed up the process a little bit than using salt, then try using Epsom salt. That is a kind of poisonous salt for the trees. This type of salt is generally used for baths and medical purposes. Epsom salt also will dry out the fig tree and cause it to die. For using Epsom salt in the process try making some holes in the fig tree and in the soil, then put the mixture of 1 part Epsom and 2 parts of water in those holes and on the ground. Pour the mixture generously and be sure not to add too much water this can hamper the results. After applying the mixture cover up the root area and the holes for the Epsom salt to work.
8. Using basal bark
Basal bark is a kind of herbicide treatment that is composed of herbicide and oil-soluble active agents. This is a great way to get rid of any unwanted plants very easily but the catch is basal bark only works in trees that are 6 inches in diameter. If you want to kill a small fig tree then opting for basal bark is a great idea but for a bigger basal bark, you might want to consider other methods. Using basal bark is really easy and does not require that much of a hassle. To apply basal bark, you must take safety precautions and prepare the mixture as instructed in the bottle. Then apply the mixture in the bottom half of the tree, around 12 to 15 inches of the fig tree. This will successfully kill the roots of the fig tree.
9. Burning
Burning down a fig tree can be best for the ones trying to do it quickly. This method would take a day and would take down the whole tree without fail. But this has risks too. burning a tree can be illegal in some areas and can spread a fire if have taken place in a dry area. If you are sure of all the other things like the legal issue or the fire would not spread, then you carry out this process. Put an extinguisher around just in case. Drill some holes in the brunches and ensure those are 2 to 8 inches deep. Fill in the holes with kerosene or any other flammable materials. Light something up and try putting it in the holes you have just filled with flammable materials. Keep the fig tree burning until it burns down completely and keep a close eye on it.
10. Hiring a certified arborist
Hiring an arborist is one of the most expensive methods of them all but this method definitely comes up with a lot of advantages. Since they have a lot of experience in this field ty can abolish a fig tree without much hassle. Killing a tree can come up with many dangers by hiring professionals you would be free of any danger and will be able to do the job perfectly. They have all the necessary pieces of equipment so it does not matter what the size of your tree is they will able to kill the fig tree without much hassle.
4 Steps to Kill A Small Fig Tree
Killing fig trees have so many methods but killing a small fig tree should not require that much of a hassle and should be easy. The best method to kill a small fig tree would be using herbicide in the foliage of the tree. Here are the steps to follow.
- First thing before spraying an herbicide is that you would have to make sure there is no wind, otherwise there is the possibility that the herbicide will flow away.
- Second step is making sure to use a good herbicide that is very strong. You can use herbicides like triclopyr or ortho or roundup.
- Put the herbicide in a spray bottle following the instruction of the bottle and spray on the foliage of the fig tree.
- Wait for some time and make sure no water touches the fig tree until the herbicide is absorbed completely. Upon absorption, the herbicide will slowly kill the fig tree over a period of time.
3 Steps to Kill A Big Fig Tree
To cut down big fig trees you can opt for any method mentioned above depending on the area you live in or the method of your preference. Whenever it comes to the killing of a 25 to 30 feet tree the first thing that comes to mind is cutting it down from the roots. Yes, it surely is an effective method to kill fig trees. But ringbarking is much of a mess-free way to get rid of a big fig tree. For this, you can.
- Take a sharp object depending on your expertise. You can take a hammer, hatcher, chisel, or a saw.
- Remove the ring bark of the entire tree around about 4 to 8 inches.
- Spray herbicide in the open area. That will eventually deteriorate the tree.
FAQs
To kill the fig roots you can cut them down when they are still young. When trying to kill the roots of a grown fig tree try using an herbicide.
The stumps of a fig tree are very easy to kill you can remove them with a grinding tool, stump killer chemical, or by burning them down.
Well, there is nothing like you cannot plant a fig tree near your house. But you must keep in mind that the fig tree will grow around 30 feet tall, can be poisonous to other plants or your pets, and can cause allergic reactions to some.
Final Thoughts
Killing a fig tree has several methods but having a method that will actually work and make the fig tree go away without much trouble is not that easy. We have come up with 10 ways you can kill your fig tree be it a small, medium, or big tree. An in-depth detail of those methods has been given so you can choose the one that goes with your desire after considering all pros and cons and the carrying process. Also if you are trying to kill a small fig tree there is no reason to put a huge scene rather you can kill a small fig tree with very simple steps. Killing a big fig tree can be slightly tough to be compared but if you can go through the steps it is going to be easy. So figure out your situation and choose the best method to kill a fig tree.
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