Bleach will harm any tree and plant foliage it is applied to. This means the leaves of a tree sprayed with bleach will turn brown and drop off. While this may kill some trees and plants, it’s not a sure bet. Bleach is not a systemic tree killer, so it doesn’t infiltrate the tree’s system and kill down to the roots. This means that bleach does not make for an effective stump killer. There are several other products much more effective at killing trees than bleach. If your tree has been accidentally exposed to bleach, spray it with water as soon as possible to wash off the bleach to protect the foliage.
What Damage Does Bleach do to Trees?
Bleach works by drying out the leaf tissue of any plant it is applied to. By pulling the moisture out of the leaves, it turns them brown and causes them to fall off. This can cause serious damage to a tree and weaken it, but it may not kill the tree.
- Chlorine bleach is a desiccant—it dries out plant leaf tissue. This causes leaves to wither and fall off trees.
- Bleach is not a systemic plant killer. It does not kill the tree down to the root.
- Some trees may die if they are exposed to bleach. Others may recover or send forth new shoots from the roots.
- Non-native ornamentals not adapted to the region may be killed by bleach.
- Plants that are known to be hard to kill, such as poison ivy, black walnut, or lilac will typically survive bleach treatment.
Ornamental trees and shrubs that require a lot of specialized care (such as roses) can sometimes be killed by bleach. Hardy plants that are native to the region and are known to be hard to kill are extremely likely to survive being sprayed with bleach. Nine times out of ten, weeds and unwanted plants will recover from bleach exposure. This makes bleach a poor option for killing trees and tree stump removal.
How to Save a Tree Exposed to Bleach
If your desirable tree has been exposed to bleach during roof cleaning or some other activity, rinse it thoroughly with water as soon as possible. Spraying down a bleach-soaked tree with a hose-end nozzle will dilute the chlorine bleach and cause it to run off. You can use this to salvage a tree accidentally exposed to bleach.
Why to Avoid Using Bleach as a Tree Killer
Bleach is not a good choice for removing unwanted trees because it will not kill trees down to the root. Using bleach instead of herbicide is a hit-or-miss method that may not get results.
- Bleach is not a systemic plant killer that kills below the soil level.
- High-powered bleach is extremely corrosive to the skin.
- Bleach fumes are toxic if inhaled, and can be damaging to the eyes.
To boost the chance of killing a tree, some use concentrated forms of chlorine bleach. Stay away from these. Strong bleach is harmful to the skin. The fumes alone can cause damage to your lungs and eyes. It’s more dangerous for you to handle bleach than it is to use many herbicides.
What Will Kill a Tree Permanently?
Spray a systemic herbicide such as Roundup, Crossbow, or 2,4-D to kill trees under 15 feet tall (4.5 meters). These systemic herbicides infiltrate plants through the leaves, are carried beneath the bark, and kill down to the roots. For trees over 15 feet, it’s best to fell the tree and use a stump killer to systemically kill the roots.
- Spray trees under 15 feet (4.5 meters) with a systemic herbicide such as 2,4-D, Roundup, or Crossbow.
- For larger trees, cut them down and treat the stump with Tordon or 50% glyphosate concentrate.
- It is possible to kill a tree without cutting it down by using a strong stump killer such as Tordon.
If you want to kill a tree without cutting it down, there are several methods that are more effective than bleach. It’s essential to use a method that travels to the roots to attack portions below the soil surface. Otherwise, you can kill the upper portion of the tree while invasive roots continue to destroy your foundation and plumbing.
Will Bleach Kill a Tree Stump?
Bleach is not an effective stump killer because it does not invade the tree’s system and kill the underground roots. While it may sterilize the cut stump, it won’t do anything to prevent new shoots from coming up through the soil from the roots.
- Bleach is not effective for tree stump removal.
- Bleach will not penetrate a tree’s system and kill the entire network of roots.
Think of bleach as a drying agent. While it will pull moisture from whatever part of the tree it is exposed to, it doesn’t contain chemical compounds that attack a tree’s biological systems.
What is Better than Bleach for Killing Tree Stumps?
Tordon and 50% concentrate glyphosate, such as this Roundup product, are great stump killers. They work better than bleach because they contain chemical compounds that are transported through the tree’s system. Once they’ve been applied, they disrupt the tree’s growth cycle, killing it.
- Use Tordon RTU or 50% glyphosate to kill tree stumps.
- These products are systemic herbicides that are carried down to the roots by the plant, where they destroy protein and attack a plant’s biological processes.
- Stump killer herbicides are like poison for trees. Bleach applied to a tree stump is more like squeezing a lemon on a papercut.
Bleach simply doesn’t have the power to kill a stubborn tree stump that keeps sending out shoots. Pouring bleach on a stump might irritate a wound, but it won’t do much else. Systemic stump killers are the best option. They poison the entire tree to kill it completely.
Will Bleach Hurt Trees?
Bleach will dry out any tree leaves it is applied to. If it isn’t washed off quickly with water, it will cause leaves to wither and fall off. However, bleach is not a systemic tree killer. It won’t kill tree roots. While a single bleach application may kill off delicate ornamental trees or small saplings, it is unlikely to kill a mature tree completely. Bleach is also not an effective stump killer. To kill trees and stumps entirely, use a chemical herbicide designed to wipe out trees.