Off Season is the Right Season for Brush Control

These options will help you stay ahead of brush.

Low-Volume Basal and Cut-Stump treatments with Remedy® or Pathfinder® II herbicide are an excellent and convenient way to clear scattered trees and brush year-round. Both methods provide excellent control of cottonwood, elm, hedge (Osage orange, bois d'arc), locust, oak, persimmon, Russian olive and many other species.

Low-volume basal applications use a high percentage of herbicide, so each sprayer load goes farther. Generally, the mix ratio is 25 percent Remedy plus 75 percent commercial basal oil, diesel, fuel oil or kerosene. Or go with the ready-to-use convenience of Pathfinder II. Apply enough spray to wet the lower 15 to 20 inches on all sides of the trunk - including the root collar area - but not to the point of runoff. This method can be used any time of year, except when snow or water prevent spraying to the groundline. This method is best used to control woody species with trunks less than 6 inches in diameter at the base of the tree. Application should be made with low pressure and with a solid-cone or flat-fan nozzle.

If the tree is larger than 6 inches or has mature bark in the 15- to 20-inch treatment zone, the cut-stump method is a better control option. Applying the solution of Remedy plus oil or Pathfinder II herbicide straight out of the jug to cut stumps prevents resprouting and kills the stump for good.

Simply cut the brush and spray the sides of the stump and the outer portion of the cut surface, including the cambium ring along the inner bark. As with low-volume basal, you can make this treatment any time of year, as long as snow or water doesn't prevent proper application.

A chain saw and a sprayer give you two effective tools for quickly conquering diverse brush patches. Basally treat slick-bark brush with trunks smaller than 6 inches. Cut down larger trees and spray the stumps. Whether you choose Pathfinder II or Remedy plus oil, the same mix works great for both treatments.