How to Kill a Blue Spruce
- 1). Grasp the chainsaw firmly, stand in front of the tree in the direction it will fall and turn on the chainsaw. Position it downward to form a 45-degree cut through the trunk to one-fourth its diameter.
- 2). Slice through the trunk to form a second cut that meets the previous cut to create a 90-degree hinge. The resulting V-shaped notch, called the undercut, that forms due to the two cuts serves as the guide cut for the tree.
- 3). Slice through the trunk of the blue spruce at the opposite side of the undercut to form the felling or back cut. Form this cut 2 inches higher than the base of the undercut. Do not cut all the way through, but leave a small hinge of wood between the cuts on which the tree can pivot. Run to the escape path before the blue spruce begins to fall.
- 4). Saw the stump that remains down to 19 inches above the ground. Drill a series of 10- to 12-inch-deep, 1- to 1 1/2-inch-wide holes into the stump.
- 5). Dilute an oil-based herbicide in oil following label directions. Pour the herbicide into each hole until full. Roots of the stump die in eight to 10 weeks or longer, depending on the strength of the formula and the size of the stump. Inspect the stump for rotting that indicates its roots are dead.
- 6). Pry the stump out of the ground using a tractor or shovel. Wind one end of a heavy-duty chain around the stump and insert the other into the tractor’s hitch. Slowly press and release the accelerator to move the tractor forward, so it pulls the stump out of the soil. Alternatively, dig around and under the stump to release the root ball from the soil.
- 7). Remove debris and pine cones from around the planting site to keep the undesirable tree from growing back.