OT: Russian Olive

When a cedar is cut down to the ground, that's it -- it's dead, and it ain't coming back. I'm afraid the RO will just think of my work as "pruning." Will I need to spray the stumps?

Russian Olive is an evil, nasty bit of vegetation.

The most effective time to use Roundup (glyphosate) on trees and shrubs is in the fall, just before, or as the leaves are turning. At that time all the chlorophyl and other nutrients in the leaves are breaking down and being translocated to the roots for winter storage. With all the movement from the stem to the roots, more of the glyphosate makes it to the roots. I use it on poisson ivy in September (Massachusetts) and it kills 99 percent every time.

I would cut the russian olive early-mid summer so the growth is low (to make it easier to spray) but robust when fall comes around. Then spray with Roundup or other glyphosate product that also contains surfacants (makes the herbicides stick to the leafs better) at the highest recommeded concentration.

I cut down a Russian Olive last year, sprayed a couple times with a combination of Roundup and Mecamine-D (a 2,4-D family product), both near full strength (per mixing instructions). I had shoots about 18" high and I soaked the foliage, top and bottom surfaces of the leaves. I just noticed a singk=le shoot last night (about 4" tall) that I will have to spray, but its about time to declare victory!

The 2,4-D family herbicides have a systemic action that typically does a better job of getting the roots of broadleaf plants (besides not harming your grass).

HTH,

Nathaniel