Not sure, what I do to kill trees is pealing back the bark around the stem, it doesn't have to be wide, I usually take
a axe and chop about a five inch strip all the way around.
Konrad

Thanks Konrad, I guess I will do that. I didn't want it to be obvious because it's a boulevard tree I want to get rid of. The city will cut it down for free if it dies. Half of it blew down in a wind storm last summer and I want the rest gone because it shades my roses and I'm allergic to its pollen. And it's butt ugly.

You alternate steel and copper nails. The chemical reaction poisons the tree. I don't know how long it takes. My grandfather told me this, among many vivid depression era stories.

northspruce,

Is there any way you can try to find out the "fine print" in your local by-laws before proceeding?? I ask because there was a story on our local radio station the other day about a fellow who cut down 2 trees on his blvd.

First he was charged as it is actually illegal as the trees belong to the city and not the homeowner....that was bad enough...now here is the catch...the city is taking him to court to sue for the "mature value" of each tree. It was estimated that it could be up to $ 5,000.00 per tree. YIKES!!

In our city you can get a blvd tree planted before you are scheduled for one by paying part of the cost. Since yours is half dead anyway perhaps the city will remove it and replant something you are not alergic to if you offer to pay for the tree.

Cathy