Get Rid Of Invasive And Unwanted Trees With A PVC Solution

We all know that there are invasive plants you should never grow, but sometimes the invasive plants find you — especially in the case of invasive trees. It may seem like an exaggeration to call any slow-growing plant destructive, but invasive varieties can choke out native trees, out-competing them for resources and even changing the soil chemistry of an area for their benefit. Safely removing these invasive trees from your lawn and garden can take patience and perseverance, especially if they have already spread a lot. One tool conservationists use to help in their cause is the PVC kill stick.

With a name like PVC kill stick, this nifty conservation device sounds way more intense than it is. The idea behind it is to build an herbicide application tool out of cheap materials while still keeping yourself and the environment safe. As the name suggests, it's made mostly out of PVC piping that can be found at any home improvement store, and the size can be customized to be as comfortable to hold and use as you want. Instead of spraying herbicides all over, you apply it with a sponge to each individual tree you want to remove.

For this clever way to keep invasive plants from spreading in your garden, building a PVC stick can be as simple or elaborate as you want. The essential pieces of a PVC kill stick are a PVC pipe, a valve to start and stop the flow of the herbicide, PVC cement, two endcaps, and an application sponge or cloth. To start, you will need a 4-foot piece of PVC about 1 inch in diameter and a 1-foot piece of the same width. 

Take your PVC cement and apply it around the opening of your 4-foot PVC pipe. Insert the valve piece around this opening, and then apply more PVC cement to the end of your 1-foot piece of PVC. Connect this piece to the other end of the valve. Cut an opening into one of your PVC endcaps, and insert the cloth or sponge. This will go on at the end of your 1-foot pipe. The second endcap will prevent the herbicide from falling out of the long end. 

When you're ready to use your new PVC kill stick, be sure to do so in the fall, as this is the best time to apply herbicides because plants start pulling energy and resources from their above-ground limbs into their roots. After determining the tree you want to get rid of, all you have to do is unscrew the endcap, and pour in the appropriate herbicide. Make sure the valve is closed when filling the device up. Pro tip: it's helpful to use a funnel to prevent spills. Then you put the endcap back on. When you arrive at the tree in question, open the valve until the sponge or cloth is soaked and begins to drip out. Now it's time to get to work painting the tree stump.

As with all things that involve potentially harmful chemicals, please follow the safety and use instructions on the bottle of the herbicide you use. Typically this would involve gloves and eye protection at a minimum.