Question
The tree was just planted last Nov. I haven't seen any leaves on the tree yet. Do you think the roots already grow so far?
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Hi,

Can I kill it if I just simply pour boiling water around it every night?

THANKS
Lena
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WILL THE CHEMICAL THING YOU MENTIONED LEAVES COLOR?
Is there any way not using chemical things? I don't want to kill my lawn.-------------------------------------------
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Hi,
Thanks for your quick response. Please tell me whether there is an energy saving way to kill it rather than cut it? I just let it die without looking ugly now, because lots of trees has bared branch now. I will wait till i have time to dig it or cut it. I just want it not grow roots and die, so i can easily dig out or do something without too much trouble.

Is boiling water ok? Or you have better idea?

Thanks
Lena
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Hello,

I have a tree just planted last fall. It hasn't showed the leaves so far. Recently, i just noticed that the planter planted it too close to my drive way. Some branches already scratched my car when I drove in and out. I want to kill it but doesn't want to cut it or pull it out. Just don't want it survive when the spring comes. So it will not grow roots and i can easily get rid of it later when I have mood. Please advise me a easy way to kill it, but not leave any ugly cut. Thanks

Lena
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To kill it cut the tree and right after you cut it paint a herbicide called Roundup on the fresh cut stump. There are other herbicides that have the active ingredient glyphosate in them and they go by different trade names. These maybe less expensive but Roundup is the better formulation. The tree will take up the herbicide and transport it to the root system killing the roots. I always give a warning with Roundup herbicides--these will kill any green plant they get on so make sure you do not get the herbicide on any plant not wanted to be killed.
If it is still a small tree you may want to just dig it up  and transplant it somewhere else.
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Use the same Roundup herbicide--make cuts into the bark all around the main stem and put the Roundup in the cuts as soon as you make them. The tree will respond the same way by transporting the herbicide to the roots and kill the root system.
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Roundup will not kill the lawn unless you get the liquid on the grass. Just keep in on the tree trunk and it will cause no problem. I am not sure what you mean by WILL THE CHEMICAL THING YOU MENTIONED LEAVES COLOR? The tree will not leaf out if the herbicide is applied on the trunk cuts. If this is still not clear let me know here or e-mail me at [email protected]

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No that will not work--the root system covers about twice the space of the crown of the tree and pouring boiling water on the area near the trunk may kill or stunt a few roots but the others will re-sprout.

Answer
It is very hard for me to visualize this tree. When new trees are planted they will have a rootball the size varying with the size of the tree. These may vary from a three foot tree with a 12 inch wide rootball, a 5-6 foot tree with a 18-24 inch wide rootball and larger trees with as much as 4-5 foot rootballs. Normally the hole to plant the tree in is twice the size of the rootball and filled good top soil --this gives the roots room to grow fast without having to push into settled soil. After a year in the ground the roots will be beyond this new hole width this also varies with tree species.. They will grow some during the winter months. How far they reach without knowing the size of the tree,  the kind of tree and the rootball would be a guess on my part without seeing the tree and growing conditions. I would think they would be beyond the width of the ordinal rootball.
If you do not want to use the herbicide just cut all the way around the trunk. This will stop the tree from putting out leaves BUT the root system will still be alive.
Try the boiling water if you want all you have got to lose is time, but I have never heard of this working. I still think if it is that small just cut the trunk down. Or prune the limbs back so they do not hit your car.