In this article, I’ll discuss eucalyptus tree removal methods and costs.

The Eucalyptus tree is a species native to the region of Australia.

It has become an invasive plant in America, California inclusive. They are known for growing in thick groves that congest the native plants. This results in a loss of biodiversity.

Since this tree poses such a problem, you may want it removed. Understandably so!

Keep reading!

How To Remove Eucalyptus Tree

There are various ways by which you can remove a tree. These include burning, pulling, grinding, and using a herbicide.

Let us take a look at these methods one by one.

Using a herbicide to remove the eucalyptus tree

This is one of the safest ways to kill a eucalyptus tree. This is because herbicides get to the tree’s roots, so there will be no chance of other trees sprouting.

Being that it is an invasive species, you wouldn’t want more eucalyptuses growing out of the roots, do you? I thought not.

Things you will need

  • Herbicide
  • Handheld spray bottle
  • 5/16-inch flat spade drill bit
  • Power drill
  • Chainsaw

Follow these steps, and the eucalyptus tree will be gone.

Cut the tree to a stump: You would want to give the chemical less work to do since you are using a herbicide. This means cutting the tree down to its lowest level is good. As you may have thought, the less of a tree there is to kill, the faster the herbicide will work.

Dig out the bottom area of the stump: Dig up the surrounding areas around the bottom part of the stump, deep enough to see the connecting portion of the root to the trunk.

Drill holes at the top of the stump and the sides: After the tree has been felled, take a power drill and make as many holes as possible at the top and sides of the tree. The holes should go about 12mm deep.

Drill extra holes into the exposed parts of the roots.

Pour the herbicide: With your spray can filled with herbicide, pour as much into the holes you created.

If it is a liquid herbicide, you can fill the holes to the brim. If it’s in powder form, you can make a solution first, then pour it into the holes. Follow the instructions on the pack.

Repeat the process: The herbicide will take about 3 to 4 weeks to start manifesting itself on the eucalyptus tree. While you wait, you can check on the holes in the stump and see if the herbicide has been fully absorbed. If it has, you can add more, so you will speed up the process.

Remove the tree: After the course of time has passed and the herbicide has succeeded in killing the tree, it is now time to remove it.

Take an ax and chop off the connecting parts of the root to the trunk so you can quickly yank it off.

Dig more around the surrounding areas to loosen up the dead stump and the roots.

By this time, the eucalyptus tree had been rotted and softened. This would make it easier to pull off the soil.

Warnings

Always guard yourself against potential herbicide splashes. They are not to be ingested or inhaled.

Make sure you put on protective goggles to screen your eyes and a facemask to guard your mouth and nostrils against the chemical.

Also, be careful when handling the chainsaw. It is a very sharp tool that can cause serious injuries, so operate with caution. Turn off the chainsaw when you are not cutting.

Extra Tip

If you are using the herbicide method to kill a eucalyptus tree during the winter season, create spaces that are 1 inch apart in the trunk. The tree could be dormant in the winter season. If it is, you will need more herbicides to kill it.

Removing eucalyptus trees with heavy-duty machines

This is another method with which you can remove eucalyptus trees. Using this method will cost you more than the herbicide method, but it is much faster.

Heavy-duty machines such as grapplers will rip off both the tree and its roots from the soil. These grapplers have very sharp teeth that wrap around a tree’s trunk, and with the help of powerful hydraulics, the operator pulls the tree from the ground.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to do this on your own since I don’t assume you own such a machine, nor do you know how to operate one. That being the case, your best bet is to hire a tree removal service to come with their grappler and yank that eucalyptus right off your yard.

As I mentioned before, it will cost you a decent amount of money, depending on the size of the tree. Expect to spend between $2,000 to $5,000.

These figures are merely estimates, as many factors determine the cost of tree removal.

Burning Eucalyptus Tree Stump

There are various ways by which you can burn tree stumps. You can use kerosene, diesel, or charcoal. All the methods work just as well.

To burn a eucalyptus tree stump with charcoal, you first have to dig around the stump’s base. By doing this, you will be exposing as much of the eucalyptus roots as you possibly can. Remember, the eucalyptus tree is an invasive species, and to properly remove it means killing it from the root.

Not tackling the problem from the root will mean the birth of several other eucalyptus trees down the line.

After the base area of the eucalyptus tree stump has been dug, drill some holes at the top of the stump and fill it up with vegetable oil. Leave the oil to soak into the eucalyptus tree stump overnight.

You can also drill some holes in the exposed roots and fill them up with oil to get faster results.

The following day, grab a bag of charcoal and dump it at the top of the stump. Also, stuff the hole you dug around the tree stump with as much charcoal as possible. By doing this, you’ll be making sure you will also kill the tree’s roots.

You can place some firewood in the charcoal if you wish, as it will speed up the process.

With everything in place, proceed to light up the heap. Make sure you maintain a safe distance when burning the eucalyptus tree stump.

Also, be sure to control the flame as it burns. You can dampen the tree stump area so that the fire will not cross the marked-out region. You can also build a small wall with rocks around the stump before burning it.

All these measures will keep the fire controlled.

The things you will need to burn eucalyptus tree stump with kerosene, diesel, or charcoal include –

  • A shovel to dig around the base of the stump (to expose as much root as possible)
  • A power drill to make holes for the flammable liquid (kerosene, vegetable oil, or diesel)
  • Firewood to help kindle the fire

As for safety, you will need a few items too. These include –

  • Goggles to protect eyes from smoke
  • A facemask to protect against smoke inhalation
  • Gloves to protect hands from fire burns and blisters
  • Cellphone to call the fire service in case of an emergency

Eucalyptus tree removal cost in the U.K

The cost of removing a eucalyptus tree in the U.K will vary based on various factors.

These factors include –

Size: The bigger the tree, the more expensive it will be to remove, and vice versa.

Location: If the tree is located in a high-brow neighborhood in the U.K, then expect to pay more for the service, and vice versa.

Obstacles: If the tree is situated near a barrier such as a power line, a fence, or is leaning too close to the roof of a house, then it would take a more extended period to remove. This will, of course, attract extra costs.

How Much Does Eucalyptus Tree Removal Cost?

Different tree removal companies will charge additional fees for their services. To ensure you are getting the best deal, try and get as many as four other quotes. Compare prices and go for the most favorable.

A tree with a 30cm diameter trunk and a two-story height will cost between £1,000 to £1,500. Another tree with a larger trunk diameter of 50cm and four-story height will cost around £1,800 to £3,000.

A massive tree with a trunk of 75cm in diameter will cost between £5,000 to £8,000.

As I said before, costs will depend on various factors. These are just average estimates.

Conclusion

I trust this article on eucalyptus tree removal methods, and cost has been very informative.

Take care!

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