Question
I have a large carrot tree that was cut down to about a foot high.There are about five trunks. It keeps growing. The trucks are about 4 to 5 inch round. What is the best way to kill this thing.

Thanks

David

Answer
Carrotwood has been listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as one of Florida's most invasive plant species since 1995 and was added to the Florida Noxious Weed List (5b-57.007 FAC) by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 1999. Plants on the Florida Noxious Weed List may not be introduced, possessed, moved, or released without a permit.

Homeowners can help mitigate the problem of carrotwood trees in natural areas by removing them from their property. Mature trees should be felled with a chain saw by the property owner or a professional tree service. The final cut should be made as close to the ground as possible and as level as possible to facilitate application of a herbicide to prevent sprouting. Stumps that are not treated with a herbicide will sprout to form multiple-trunked trees. If it is not objectionable for dead trees to be left standing, certain herbicides can be applied directly to the bark at the base of the tree (basal bark application).

Herbicides that contain the active ingredient triclopyr amine (e.g., Brush-B-Gon, Garlon 3A Ultra) or glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) can be applied to cut stumps to prevent resprouting. The herbicide should be applied as soon as possible after felling the tree and concentrated on the thin layer of living tissue (cambium) that is just inside the bark. Herbicides with the active ingredient triclopyr ester can be used for basal bark applications. Concentrated products (e.g., Garlon 4) must be diluted according to instructions on the herbicide label with a penetrating oil manufactured for this purpose, Herbicide products are available for basal bark application that are pre-diluted with penetrating oil (e.g., Pathfinder II).