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There are many ways to get rid of American maple, also called ash-leaved maple. It should be borne in mind that this is not so easy and quick to do. If there are several methods that differ in efficiency, cost, time and physical labor.
Why you need to fight American maple
American maple was brought to Europe on purpose. At first it grew only in parks, but over time it became part of the native vegetation. This species is invasive, meaning it threatens biological diversity. This happens due to the ability to quickly form multi-tiered thickets.
Experts even call the tree the killer maple. It is very aggressive, especially at the beginning of the invasion. This is expressed in spontaneous seed reproduction. The species is included in the Black Books of the Flora of Siberia and Central Russia.
The crown of the American maple grows greatly, shading other plantings and interfering with their development. This also helps preserve pathogens and pests. The rapid and extensive spread of growth also harms other plants and breaks the asphalt.
Because of the American maple, poplars and willows stop regenerating in floodplain forests.The leaf litter of this species contains colins - these substances inhibit the growth of other plants.
The ash-leaf maple is the main nursery and source of infection for the American white butterfly, a quarantine pest. The risk of being hit by it is especially high on the Black Sea coast.
Another negative point is that pollen from male specimens of American maple is a strong allergen. It blooms in spring, in the middle zone by the end of April or early May. Pollen is carried far by the wind, causing hay fever in allergy sufferers.
The decorative value of American maple is low, and the wood is fragile. Branches and the tree itself often break and fall. The cause of collapse can also be the superficial root system, which is easily damaged.
Unlike other plants that purify the air of impurities, maple oxidizes substances in car exhaust, making them even more toxic.
How to remove American maple from the site forever
American maple grows as a weed that is not easy to remove. You can get rid of it in different ways.
Mechanical method
To get rid of American maples, it is not effective to resort to traditional logging. If comprehensive measures are not taken, seed productivity will only increase, since the shoots are actively renewed. A separate trunk of each felled tree is replaced by 9-22 new shoots.
American maple can be removed from a site mechanically, that is, by uprooting. To get rid of it, do this:
- Cutting down part of the trunk, leaving 1-2 m from it, will give you good leverage.
- Dig a tree.
- Chop the horizontal skeletal roots, retreating 0.5-1 m from the trunk. You can use an ax or a sharpened shovel.
- By rocking or rotating, break the tap root. The task will be made easier by using a winch.
After removing the tree from the site, you need to dig up the vacant space and cover it with black film. It is removed every two weeks to get rid of maple growth. It is important to control it in the future if there is a risk of sowing seeds from adjacent areas. The emerging shoots are removed in a timely manner, before they have time to take root.
The mechanical method of getting rid of American maple is quite labor-intensive, but absolutely not costly in financial terms. In the process, standard tools are used - a shovel, an ax. It is effective to combine the mechanical method with other methods.
Agrotechnical method
To destroy an American maple on a site, it is important to know its characteristics. When severely damaged, the root system is sensitive to moisture stagnation and winter freezing. It is effective to cut or crush the underground part and proceed as follows:
- Get rid of as many large fragments as possible.
- Sprinkle the root system with soil. Make a layer from 10 cm.
- Moisten thoroughly.
- Make a shelter from rolled waterproofing material that does not allow light to pass through. Lay it in two overlapping layers.
Proper execution allows you to get rid of the roots of the American maple on the site. They simply rot and die.
Roofing felt can be used as a waterproofing material - bricks, large stones or other heavy objects are needed for fixation
Chemicals
To remove American maple from the garden, they resort to arboricides (herbicides). The drug Roundup and its analogues based on glyphosate are effective:
- Agrokiller;
- Vortex;
- Glyphos;
- Ground;
- Hurricane Forte;
- Tornado;
- Triumph.
The mixture is prepared according to the instructions directly on site before use. One treatment is enough to get rid of unnecessary vegetation. It is usually produced in July-October.
To get rid of American maple, arboricides are used in different ways:
- Spray the crowns and shoots. The herbicide is diluted with water in half.
- Make notches 1 cm deep on the trunk and inject the undiluted drug into them.
- Drill a hole in the bottom of the trunk and pour herbicide into it. There is no need to dilute the product.
- Treat the stump of the cut trunk. This will suppress the growth of shoots from the buds. Use a 1:1 solution and apply it with a brush within half an hour after cutting.
- Apply the working solution to the bark.
- Till the soil in the root zone.
When working with herbicides like Roundup, you need to remember safety measures - use safety glasses and a respirator.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods for destroying American maple are not the most effective, but they are minimally expensive and simple. One option to get rid of a tree is to cut it down, put a black bag over the stump and secure it with tape. The space around is covered with earth. The method is appropriate when there are few specimens and the trunk diameter is small.
Another option to get rid of a tree is to cut it down and make a cross-shaped cut as deep as possible on the stump (to the ground). Table salt is poured into it. You should use the regular product without additives. Practice shows that the effectiveness of the method is 50%.
Another popular method for getting rid of American maple is using copper nails. They are driven into the trunk. Over time, the metal oxidizes, poisoning the wood. This leads to the death of the tree.
Conclusion
There are many ways to get rid of American maple. It is most effective to combine several options, since even the death of a tree does not exclude regeneration from the shoots. When working with chemicals, it is important to remember about personal protection, and when working mechanically, about the safety of using tools.
