How to Remove a Texas Ranger Plant

Choose an herbicide suitable for foliar application. This type of herbicide is sprayed on the leaves and is absorbed into the plant. The poison travels along the Texas Ranger's circulatory system, poisoning the plant and killing the root system.

Mix the herbicide as directed on the label and fill the spray bottle or pump sprayer with the product. A pump sprayer makes the job easier when the plant is large and broad. Use herbicides containing 2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba or picloram if you are treating the Texas Ranger in summer. Apply a glyphosate herbicide such as Roundup in late summer, or products containing imazapyr if you treat the plant anytime from mid to late summer.

Choose a windless, mild day to treat the Texas Ranger shrub. Fill the spray bottle or pump sprayer with herbicide and thoroughly wet the leaves of the plant. It is not necessary to drench the foliage enough to cause herbicide to drip from the leaves.

Dig up the Texas Ranger plant with the shovel once the plant appears to have died. Dig around the outside of the plant inward, unearthing and collecting as much of the root system as possible, since any viable roots left behind may sprout new growth.

Pull the dead plant out of the ground after the root ball is exposed and loosened. Place the Texas Ranger in the wheelbarrow, if needed, to transport. Dispose of the Texas Ranger plant away from the garden to eliminate any chance of roots that are not quite dead reviving and reestablishing the plant.