Common Invasive Plants | Tree of Heaven
Tree of Heaven
Ailanthus altissima
Tree of Heaven is a deciduous tree that can reach up to 100’ in height. It is found along right-of-ways, roadsides, and woodland edges, establishing quickly to colonize disturbed and neglected areas. Tree-of-heaven tolerates very poor soils and can even grow in cracked pavement and building foundations. It is allelopathic - chemicals in leaves, roots, and bark limit or prevent the establishment of other plants. Aggressive root suckers also extend the spread as far as 50’ from the parent tree, creating dense colonies of established trees. Tree of Heaven is a host plant for the Spotted Lanternfly, an extremely harmful pest that attacks many trees. Spotted lanternfly is especially damaging to grapevines and fruit crops.
How to Control
Due to its extensive root system and the ability to aggressively sucker and resprout, eradication of tree-of-heaven is extremely difficult. The correct timing of the treatment, and follow-up maintenance during subsequent years, are critical to eradication success,
Young seedlings can be pulled by hand, most effectively when the soil is moist. Care must be taken to remove as much of the entire root system as possible, as broken root fragments will re-sprout. Once plants develop a significant taproot, which can occur within 3 months, they become very difficult to remove. Seedlings can be easily confused with root suckers, which are nearly impossible to pull by hand.
Larger trees may be cut at ground level with power or manual saws. Cutting is most effective when trees have begun to flower (June-early July). A cut or injured tree-of-heaven may send up dozens of root sprouts. At least two cuttings per year may be necessary (one early in the growing season and one late in the growing season) to significantly weaken the plant. Although plants may not be killed after cutting, seed production will be inhibited and vigor will be reduced. If the cutting process is repeated for many years, plants will be severely stressed and will eventually die. Girdling of the tree trunk may also be an effective method to reduce vigor or kill large trees. A cut through the bark, approximately 6” above the ground, and cut completely around the trunk, will kill the top of the tree. However, re-sprouts are common, and may require follow-up treatments for several years.
Tree of Heaven is a deciduous tree that can reach up to 100’ in height. It is found along right-of-ways, roadsides, and woodland edges, establishing quickly to colonize disturbed and neglected areas. Tree-of-heaven tolerates very poor soils and can even grow in cracked pavement and building foundations. It is allelopathic - chemicals in leaves, roots, and bark limit or prevent the establishment of other plants. Aggressive root suckers also extend the spread as far as 50’ from the parent tree, creating dense colonies of established trees. Tree of Heaven is a host plant for the Spotted Lanternfly, an extremely harmful pest that attacks many trees. Spotted lanternfly is especially damaging to grapevines and fruit crops.
How to Control
Due to its extensive root system and the ability to aggressively sucker and resprout, eradication of tree-of-heaven is extremely difficult. The correct timing of the treatment, and follow-up maintenance during subsequent years, are critical to eradication success,
Young seedlings can be pulled by hand, most effectively when the soil is moist. Care must be taken to remove as much of the entire root system as possible, as broken root fragments will re-sprout. Once plants develop a significant taproot, which can occur within 3 months, they become very difficult to remove. Seedlings can be easily confused with root suckers, which are nearly impossible to pull by hand.
Larger trees may be cut at ground level with power or manual saws. Cutting is most effective when trees have begun to flower (June-early July). A cut or injured tree-of-heaven may send up dozens of root sprouts. At least two cuttings per year may be necessary (one early in the growing season and one late in the growing season) to significantly weaken the plant. Although plants may not be killed after cutting, seed production will be inhibited and vigor will be reduced. If the cutting process is repeated for many years, plants will be severely stressed and will eventually die. Girdling of the tree trunk may also be an effective method to reduce vigor or kill large trees. A cut through the bark, approximately 6” above the ground, and cut completely around the trunk, will kill the top of the tree. However, re-sprouts are common, and may require follow-up treatments for several years.
