Invasive tree removal involves cutting down woody species, such as Russian olives, Siberian elms, and willows, either in the fall or during their winter dormancy to minimize soil disturbance and damage to desirable plants. Russian olives and Siberian elms are truly invasive and can choke out native plant growth, along with negatively impacting the hydrology of riparian areas. Willows aren’t all necessarily invasive, but can impede water drainage and also crowd out other desirable species. Trees will either be drug by hand or towed with machinery to a central processing site where they can be chipped and hauled off. After the trees are cut, they will sprout new growth from the stumps in the spring unless they’re treated with herbicide. Herbicide concentrate can either be painted onto cut stumps in the fall, or a systemic herbicide can be sprayed onto the new foliage emerging from stumps in early summer.

We also group the removal of rabbitbrush into this service, as the control method is somewhat similar. Often times large rabbitbrush can just be mowed down, but it will undoubtedly re-emerge and will need to be treated with herbicide at that time. This species can become problematic along fence lines and in pasture settings. Cattail control has a similar approach, where mature stands may be cut down to allow for proper water drainage, and then new regrowth is sprayed with herbicide to finally kill the plants.