What Are Basal Bark Herbicide Applications?
| Active Ingredient | Herbicide Trade Name (s) | Application Method | Mixture (Rate) |
| Triclopyr (ester) | Garlon 4 Ultra, Relegate | Spray to wet lower 12–15 inches of stem, ... | 20-30% in basal oil, diesel fuel, fuel o ... |
| Triclopyr (ester) | Forestry Garlon XRT | Thoroughly wet basal parts of brush and ... | 13-19% in basal oil, diesel fuel, fuel o ... |
| Triclopyr (ester) | Pathfinder II | Spray to wet lower 12–15 inches of stem, ... | Ready to use |
How do you use basal bark treatment?
Basal bark treatment is a woody invasive plant control method that involves spraying herbicide or herbicide mixture carried in oil onto the stems bases of target plants. It is generally only effective on plants with a diameter at breast height of 6” or less (Jackson 2017).
What is the difference between foliar and basal bark treatments?
Basal bark treatments are different than foliar treatments. An oil carrier is used instead of water and only specific oil soluble herbicides are effective. Historically, diesel oil was used as the oil carrier. While it can still be used, newer oil carriers are safer and just as effective.
What is the best time of year to apply basal bark?
Low volume basal bark herbicide treatment can be conducted any time of year, but may be less effective in early spring during upward sap flow when plants are drawing material upward from the roots. It should not be conducted when the lower trunks or stems of target plants are covered by snow or floodwater.
What is a low volume basal bark application?
The goal of a low volume basal bark application is cover the entire circumference of the bottom 12-15” of the target stems with a single coat of herbicide without runoff, blow-by or spatter.
What is basal oil used for?
Alligare's Basal Oil (Dye or No Dye) with 100% Paraffin Oil has been developed for basal-bark and cut-surface brush control. It may be used as a carrier (instead of using diesel fuel) with herbicides such as Alligare's Triclopyr 4 or Rotary 2SL when used in premix.
Does Roundup penetrate bark?
Use a sharp knife or handsaw to cut over the mark to remove the section of the bark. Do not worry if you get some of the tissue directly under it as well. Roundup will easily penetrate the growing tissue through this exposed section.
How is triclopyr applied?
Products with triclopyr can be applied aerially or by ground application. They may be applied on tree bark, injected into tree trunks or soil, or sprayed on plant leaves. Products with triclopyr may have acid, salt, or ester forms.
How do we treat the tree of heaven?
To control tree-of-heaven , target the roots with systemic herbicides applied in mid- to late summer (July to onset of fall color) when the tree is moving carbohydrates to the roots. Herbicide applications made outside this late growing season window will only injure aboveground growth.
What is basal bark herbicide?
Basal bark herbicide treatment is a control method in which an oil soluble herbicide is mixed with an oil carrier instead of water and applied directly to the bark of woody plants less than 6 inches in diameter.
What to put around trees to prevent weeds?
Landscape Bark or Mulch will surpress weeds and will keep water in the soil as it reduces the amount that will be evaporated. This is great if you don't want to constantly go out and water or it is not practical to go out an water.
Do you need surfactant with triclopyr?
It is recommended to add a non-ionic surfactant for best results but is not required per label instructions.
Is triclopyr safe around trees?
Keep in mind that mature trees can potentially be harmed by triclopyr. Since poison ivy will grow up tree trunks, you may be tempted to spray the leaves and vine on the trunk. This is rarely a good idea.
How toxic is triclopyr?
Technical triclopyr acid was found to be slightly toxic by oral and dermal routes and has been placed in Toxicity Category III for these effects.
Why is the tree of heaven a problem?
The tree of heaven is a problem because it reproduces very quickly and aggressively inhibits (and can even kill) native plants near it.
When should I prune my tree of heaven?
The tree of heaven makes a beautiful specimen tree for a large garden or a stunning shrub where space is limited, provided it is cut back hard each spring. It is grown for its attractive foliage and colourful, winged fruit, which follows the small, green, summer flowers.
Does Tree of Heaven burn well?
The tree of Heaven makes good firewood. The tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a species that was introduced to the United States in 1784 when it was brought from China to be used as an ornamental tree. Although many people find it attractive, this fast-growing tree is generally considered as more of a weed.
What Are Basal Bark Herbicide Applications?
Basal bark herbicide applications are made using a low-pressure backpack sprayer to thoroughly wet the lower 12-15 inches of the stem using a solid...
What Are Basal Bark Herbicide Applications Used for?
Basal bark applications are used to control thin-barked trees generally less than 6 inches in basal diameter. It is most commonly used in hardwood...
When Can Basal Bark Herbicide Applications Be Made?
Basal bark herbicides can be applied anytime of year, including winter months, except when snow prevents spraying to the ground line or when stem s...
Applied Research Results: Basal Bark Herbicide Application Rate Study
Traditional understory low-volume basal bark treatments using triclopyr ester have used herbicide mixtures at concentrations of 20-30 percent. Prel...
Conclusion: Management Implications
Basal bark herbicide treatments allow for targeted vegetation control with little danger of off-site and nontarget species damage. Basal bark appli...
How to apply basal bark?
Use an adjustable cone nozzle or a 20-degree angle flat fan spray nozzle at low pressure to prevent over application and herbicide waste.
What is basal bark herbicide?
Basal bark herbicide treatment is a control method in which an oil soluble herbicide is mixed with an oil carrier instead of water and applied directly to the bark of woody plants less than 6 inches in diameter.
Can basal bark be used on dead trees?
Basal bark treatment is not recommended where thousands of stems per acre need to be treated. Basal bark treatments also cannot be used where spraying into water is inevitable.
Do you need a surfactant for basal bark?
Surfactants are not required for basal bark treatments. However, a spray indicator, such as a colorant or dye, may be useful to see what has been treated. Some basal oils that already have a spray indicator included are available.
Can you use glyphosate on basal bark?
No. Avoid using any glyphosate or triclopyr amine products for basal bark treatments. They will not be effective, because they are water soluble and will not penetrate the bark.
How to treat basal bark?
Basal bark treatment: Mix 1-5 gallons of Garlon 4 Ultra in enough oil to make 100 gallons of mixture (1-5 percent). Apply with a backpack sprayer using low pressure (20-40 psi). Thoroughly wet the basal parts of brush and tree trunks to a height of 12-15 inches from the ground. Spray until runoff at the ground line is noticeable .
How to use basal bark herbicide?
Basal bark herbicide applications are made using a low-pressure backpack sprayer to thoroughly wet the lower 12-15 inches of the stem using a solid cone or flat fan nozzle. To be effective, it is important to thoroughly wet the entire stem, root collar area, and any exposed roots. Basal bark herbicides use an oil carrier (commercially available basal oil, diesel fuel, no. 1 or no. 2 fuel oil, or kerosene) to penetrate the bark. Trees with thick or rough bark may require increased coverage to be effective.
What is the active ingredient in basal bark?
Numerous products are labeled for use as basal bark applications (Table 1). Triclopyr ester is the active ingredient used. It is found in products such as Garlon 4 Ultra and Relegate. Triclopyr ester is a systemic herbicide, absorbed by the plant and translocated to tissues remote from the point of application.
What is the best way to control understory tree saplings?
Selective herbicide applications offer one of the safest, surest, and most efficient means for controlling unwanted understory tree species. Herbicides can control unwanted seedlings and saplings using directed foliar sprays, tree injection, and basal bark sprays.
What percentage of crown necrosis is controlled?
Study results are summarized in Table 5, listed by individual treatment. For sake of discussion, trees showing 75 percent crown necrosis were considered controlled. Spring treatments of 1 percent concentration did not adequately control any of the five species. However, spring applications at 2.5 percent concentration controlled all species except beech. The spring application of 5 percent concentration was successful at controlling all five species examined.
Why is it important to control interfering plants?
Controlling interfering plants prior to a planned harvest can increase the proportion of desirable species that regenerate successfully . Depending on ownership objectives, it is often useful to remove or target undesirable tree species, favoring species better suited to the site and future desired conditions.
Is black birch a controlled species?
Summer treatments at 1 percent concentration were inadequate to control black birch and hophornbeam. The results were similar for the 2.5 percent treatment. However, at 5 percent, black birch was 100 percent controlled. None of the summer application rates successfully controlled hophornbeam to a 75 percent level.
What is the best tool to spray basal bark?
A chemical proof hand spray bottle with a nozzle that produces a mist, and rope wick or foam roller hand tools can also be used for basal bark application (Miller et al. 2015). The handles of specialized wick and roller tools are usually 3-4’ long, made of PVC, and have hollow reservoirs for herbicide which is fed to a permeable wick (usually made of cotton rope) or a foam roller. These tools may be suitable for very small projects and where high selectivity is needed to protect desirable plants, but are likely too limited in herbicide capacity and durability for larger jobs.
What is basal bark herbicide?
Basal bark treatment is a woody invasive plant control method that involves spraying herbicide or herbicide mixture carried in oil onto the stems bases of target plants. It is generally only effective on plants with a diameter at breast height of 6” or less (Jackson 2017).
What herbicides are used for basal bark?
The most commonly used herbicides for basal bark treatment are oil soluble, though some water soluble herbicides are labeled for basal bark application when mixed as a water-oil emulsion. When choosing a systemic herbicide, a site manager should consider the site characteristics, the species being treated, and the environmental behavior of the chemical relative to long-term goals for the site.
How thick is basal bark?
At a diameter at breast height less than 6” (less than 6” per stem for multi-stemmed species), most tree, shrub and vine species will have bark that is thin enough to be penetrated by an oil-based herbicide mixture.
Is basal bark herbicide safe for aquatic use?
The herbicides and mixtures used for basal bark treatment are not labeled for aquatic use. Therefore, managers should use other practices for areas with saturated soils or surface water. Due to differences in species biology, certain chemicals or chemical mixtures work better on some species than others.
Can you use herbicide dye on basal oil?
Specialized basal oils usually come pre-mixed with herbicide dye. If the carrier oil is used is colorless, herbicide dye is a recommended addition to the mix. Use of a dye will allow applicators to ensure complete coverage of stems, more easily recognize blow-by, track which stems have been treated, and can also alert any other site users that an herbicide was recently applied.
Can basal bark be repeated?
Any invasive species treatment needs to be monitored for effectiveness and for invasive species re-growth in the years following treatment. Basal bark treatments can be repeated if necessary, though herbicide label-specified annual limits must be followed.
Herbicide mixing
Estimate the amount of mixture you will need - be conservative. It is easier to mix up more herbicide than it is to dispose of excess mixture.
Paint the stem
Starting at the base of each stem, paint all the way around the stem to a minimum height of 30 centimetres.
Clean up
Any left over mixture must be disposed of in a pit that has been prepared with lime or wood ash. The pit must be situated at least 50 metres away from watercourses.
More information
For more information or if you would like a copy of the fact sheet mailed to you, send an email to the Pest Plant team.
Basal bark application final part 5: Helpful tips
Posted on December 16, 2016 by Grassland Restoration Network blog published by Bill Kleiman.
About Grassland Restoration Network blog published by Bill Kleiman
Bill Kleiman's daytime job is manager of Nachusa Grasslands. We are looking for guest authors on various topics of grassland habitat restoration. Contact me with your ideas or drafts.
Basal bark application on honeysuckle part 1
Posted on December 13, 2016 by Grassland Restoration Network blog published by Bill Kleiman.
About Grassland Restoration Network blog published by Bill Kleiman
Bill Kleiman's daytime job is manager of Nachusa Grasslands. We are looking for guest authors on various topics of grassland habitat restoration. Contact me with your ideas or drafts.
Why use a separate sprayer for basal bark?
Use separate sprayers for basal bark applications to prevent emulsion from water in the backpack. Basal bark sprayers require a positive shutoff to eliminate drips anddifferent nozzles than those for foliar applications. Many foliar sprayers also have pump pressure too high for basal bark application.
How to prevent pressure buildup in backpack?
SOLUTIONS:Prevent excess pressure buildup in backpack by pump only once when pressuring backpack, pump less often, drain down pump – i.e. spray back into the tank to reduce pressure.
How often should I pump a backpack?
SOLUTIONS:Pump only once when pressuring backpack, pump less often, drain down pump – i.e. spray back into the tank to reduce pressure.
Can you use basal bark on wet stumps?
Basal bark and cut stump applications cannot be made to wet stumps or emulsification may occur and the target trees will not be controlled. However, rain immediately after an application will not affect the efficacy of the product as it will have already entered the bark. SNOW.
