How to Remove Arborvitae

Trees

• 1

  Cut the tree down to a stump, making sure that the stump surface is as level as possible. This will keep the herbicide from flowing off. Clean the surface of any sawdust.

• 2

  Treat the entire surface of the stump on diameter less than 3 inches. On larger diameter, just treat the 2 to 3 inches right next to the bark. This is the living cambium tissue that will conduct the chemical to the tree roots. The heartwood, or middle portion, of larger trees is already dead on larger trees.

• 3

  Apply the herbicide immediately to a fresh-cut stump surface for best efficacy. If you were not able to treat the stump right after cutting, make a new cut to expose fresh tree tissues prior to herbicide application.

• 4

  Use herbicides between late spring and early summer for best effect, recommends Washington State University Extension.

Shrubs

• 5

  Treat the foliage of uncut arborvitae shrubs to kill the plants. This is referred to as foliar treatment. You can use this method on shrubs that are up to 15 feet tall.

• 6

  Spray the foliage evenly from all sides. Do not drench the plant to the point of runoff. Repeat application after a week. Glyphosate herbicides are most effective when used during August and September.

• 7

  Avoid using herbicides during periods of high temperature and on drought-stressed plants. Also try not to use when there is a chance of rain within six hours of application. Cut and remove plants when they are dead. Dig out smaller stumps entirely from root.

• 8

  Leave the larger arborvitae tree and shrub stumps as they are or grind them to a depth of 12 inches below soil line. You can also remove stumps by wrapping with a chain, hooking the chain to a truck or tractors and pulling out. Grinding is the preferred method of stump removal in urban areas, according to University of Minnesota Extension.