How to Kill Sweet Gum Roots

Sweet gum, a North American tree, is well known for producing fragrant sap. The trees often grow in wet areas such as bogs and swamps. Sweet gum trees can be difficult to kill. A stump can quickly develop new growth if the roots survive. You can kill sweet gum roots with the help of herbicide to ensure no new growth occurs.

Chain saw
Spray bottle
Herbicide with glyphosate or triclopyr
Surfactant
Topsoil or compost

Instructions

- 1
  Position your chainsaw approximately 1 foot above the ground, and make a cut at a downward angle into the sweet gum tree trunk. Make a cut beneath your first one at an upward angle, so the two cuts form a notch in the shape of a V. Reposition your chainsaw on the opposite side of the sweet gum tree and make a cut level to the middle of the notch. Cut into the tree until only a tenth of the sweet gum's trunk remains uncut. Move away to a clear distance and wait for the tree to fall.
- 2
  Add an herbicide containing triclopyr or glyphosate to a spray bottle. Combine the herbicide with water, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mix in surfactant oil according to the herbicide instructions, which allows the solution to adhere to the sweet gum tree trunk more effectively.
- 3
  Spray the herbicide solution thoroughly over the stump of the sweet gum tree. Stop spraying once moisture is visible across the entire surface of the stump. The herbicide will saturate the trunk and move into the root system to kill it. Allow the sweet gum stump to dry.
- 4
  Lay 3 to 4 inches of topsoil or compost over the stump. The compost or soil will speed up decomposition of the stump.
- 5
  Observe the sweet gum tree stump over the course of a year. If you notice new shoots emerging from the stump, repeat the herbicide treatment.

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