Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Maine Woodlands

Publisher

Maine Woodland Owners

Publication Date

Summer 6-2024

Publisher location

Augusta, Maine

Issue Number

6

Volume Number

49

Abstract/ Summary

The drill and fill (D&F) technique provides a productive alternative to the age-old hack and squirt (H&S) method for killing tree stems. This method involves using a cordless drill to create small-diameter holes, followed by injecting a small, precise dosage (one milliliter) of concentrated water-soluble herbicide using a hand-held sprayer. The author applied D&F to standing American beech trees to prevent sprouting before cutting them for firewood. They utilized a diluted 41% glyphosate product (a 20% active ingredient solution). The target dosage was one milliliter (ml) for every 2 inches of diameter at breast height (dbh). The precise dosage control is a benefit of D&F, unlike the messy and variable H&S method. Holes were drilled 1 inch deep at a 45-degree downward angle using a 5/16” maple tapping bit, which creates a volume of about 1.26 ml. A Husqvarna 1.5-liter pressurized sprayer with a pointed brass nozzle was selected for its effectiveness in delivering the proper dosage into the hole without blowback or waste. Productivity experiments showed high efficiency, averaging 201 to 213 trees treated per hour. A two-person team increased productivity per acre, achieving 0.74 acres per hour, though the time per tree was similar. D&F is superior to H&S because it is less strenuous, facilitates treatment of stems as small as 1 inch dbh, and significantly reduces the amount of equipment carried (e.g., 40 pounds less than a backpack chainsaw setup). Furthermore, the method may be used to treat living beech stumps to kill the root system.

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