Originally Posted by R Leo

Here at Berry Hill Farm we use Remedy for woody plant control. It's the rangeland manager's herbicide that is analogous to Crossbow; both are systemic herbicides based on triclopyr.

If you use Remedy or Crossbow, you will most likely not need to worry about digging out that root ball. If any offspring survive, a touch up next growing season on the saplings will finish them for good.

On smooth-bark woody plants, we 'frill' the cambium in a few places 6"-8" above the soil and apply a light coating of Remedy (mixed 1:3 with diesel or cooking oil) all the way around the trunk. Huisache and mesquite (the only things we try to control this way) will die within 2 weeks of application. Small saplings can be cut at the ground level and the bare end coated with a Remedy mixture.

We generally do chemical brush control in the late spring and then come back in the fall and winter to deal with the dead trees.

Search the TAMU web site for the "Brush Busters" program. There is a lot of excellent information regarding brush control that can be applied to your situation.