Bleach is often used on trees to control or kill their growth.
However, the results can vary. You can target a tree with bleach, but the amount you have likely won’t be enough to kill a mature tree.
In This Article – We will look at how bleach affects trees, whether or not bleach can kill trees, tree stumps, or tree roots. We will also discuss the effectiveness of bleach in killing trees and if there are better alternatives.
Does Bleach Kill Trees?
Regarding an entire mature tree, you probably won’t kill it.
Bleach applied to a tree may detrimentally affect the leaves, so they die and fall off, Bleach applied leaf surface areas will be damaged, weakened, and in some cases, completely sterilized.
While bleach can harm large portions of trees, it is relatively challenging and not likely to kill an entire mature tree from the application of bleach alone.
Unlike other herbicides, bleach will not be taken up by the tree system very well. Although this part of the tree will die, the roots will often thrive.
Weeds and some unwelcome plants are somewhat more likely to die from bleach than trees. But again, unless it’s applied in a systematic way and at a high dose, weeds and plants will recover and grow again, especially native fire-adapted, tough to kill plants.
Trees and plants which require care, or those that are not well adapted to the environment, can die from bleach.
In Conclusion – Bleach is far from being an effective way to kill trees. In most instances, it will find little success.
Does Bleach Kill Tree Stumps?
Bleach is also commonly used to kill tree stumps.
At times, bleach will act on the tree stump and sterilize it.
But this doesn’t include the tree roots.
There are some herbicides that have compounds packed with chemicals that will penetrate the tree system and kill the entire root system. These compounds are just not in bleach.
Again, this depends upon the tree. Some trees are more sensitive to bleach than others.
However, it is realistically very challenging to kill a tree’s roots by a simple application of bleach to the stump and the surrounding area.
Does Bleach Kill Tree Roots?
While it is possible to kill tree roots using bleach, it is challenging, time-consuming, and not as effective as many other options.
Applying bleach on trees, tree stumps, or the ground will damage the tree, but will not kill the roots for most trees.
Bleach may work with small weeds and other plants unfamiliar with the climate and are constantly maintained.
More resilient trees, plants, and even weeds have a complex root system that will survive bleach.
Bleach will kill tree roots, though, if applied directly to them.
This may happen if tree roots have entered sewer lines, or if you drill through the soil and expose the roots you were concerned about.
Even Then̶- Tree roots are much more substantial than any leaves. Killing all the roots will still take time, a lot of bleach, and a number of times.
How Much Bleach Can Kill A Tree?
The volume of bleach you’ll need to eliminate a tree will rely on the type of tree and some other factors.
While there’s not exactly a definitive answer, if you have enough bleach theoretically you could kill any tree using bleach.
Of course this has the drawback of being associated with various health and environmental concerns.
Using large amounts of bleach will cause skin and eye irritation and can potentially cause significant environmental damage.
The health and environmental risks associated with using bleach as well as the low chance of success due to limited effectiveness of bleach make it an ineffective method of killing trees.
In many cases the use of bleach requires multiple applications to produce any effects on tree roots at all. In this regard, adequate herbicide is the preferred and ultimately cheaper option and also much more effective.
Are There Better Ways To Kill Trees, Stumps, And Roots?
Bleach is not meant to penetrate a network of roots and kill the tree completely. Many systemic herbicides will kill it off much faster.
Some of the most effective chemical herbicides are:
- glyphosate
- picloram
- imazapyr
- Hi-Yield 2, 4-D.
Various market brands have solutions with chemicals that can be utilized for trees, plants, and weeds.
Chemical herbicides will not only affect the whole tree, but they will also effectively penetrate its entire root system and terminate it. Use chemical herbicides with preemptive measures.
Chemical herbicides also have legal and safety considerations.
For example – only use products made for consumers and crops use and make certain to take all preemptive measures before handling the herbicide. Chemical herbicides will not give you the easiest process of terminating a tree.
You can use methods and techniques to accomplish this goal. Some methods are unlike others where you might be cutting down a tree, while others are just killing an existing standing tree.
Chemical herbicides will complete the task of killing your tree, whether you plan to cut it down or kill it standing. However, you should be fully aware of all the methods of using chemical herbicides and the safety measures to go with it.
You can also have people do it as well, but in either case, be sure to seek out professionals to know how to proceed.
Final Thoughts
Bleach will undoubtedly hurt trees and plants but is certainly not the most effective means to kill trees, stumps, and roots.
There can be an effect on several areas of the tree, especially the leaves, but bleach does not get too far into the root system.
Bleach may work for some trees and plants, but for the most part, the roots, and branches will recover and grow again.
Chemical herbicides are far more effective and ensure the tree will be entirely dead. These products are designed to kill trees in a fraction of the time it would take bleach.