How to Kill Tree Bark

Chop into the bark with an axe at a downward angle. Cut at least ½ inch into the layer beneath the bark called the sapwood. Repeat this technique until you've made cuts around the entire trunk of the tree.

Position the axe approximately 3 to 4 inches beneath the initial cut. Make a second row of cuts around the tree beneath the first row. The cuts will help loosen the bark and sapwood around the tree trunk.

Remove the loose bark with your hands. If the bark clings to the tree, wedge the tip of the axe under the bark and lift up on the axe handle to help pry it loose. The lack of sapwood and bark in the exposed area will keep the nutrients at the base of the tree as opposed to traveling up the bark, causing the tree to die.

Examine the exposed area of the tree. Remove any residual strips or patches of bark or sapwood, which may allow the tree to heal over time.

Apply a general-purpose herbicide, according to the manufacturers instructions, to the exposed area of the tree. The herbicide will prevent any new sprouts from growing out of the area.