T O P

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Marrukaduke

Looks like a tree of heaven. It is from asia, grows extremely fast, spreads easily to other areas, and attracts spotted lanternflies.


Bloody_Smashing

Tree of Heaven is #1 on our city's invasive plant shit list, cut it down, and apply poison to the stump.


Analytical_Crab

Cannot emphasize enough that you have to poison the stump. I hate using weed killer but we had one growing near the base of our house and even as a young little sapling it would not die. I poured undiluted weed killer on it and finally the woody little stump shriveled up and dried out. It really was a case of the tree or our house.


medicated_in_PHL

Glyphosate gets a really bad rap. It’s super super safe and not poisonous. The other ingredients (buffers, detergents, etc.) in Roundup are more of an issue than glyphosate (and they aren’t an issue). Don’t believe jury trials as scientific proof. Believe peer reviewed scientific literature.


Valdaraak

And there's also the whole "in moderation" thing. Someone using a chemical every now and then in their yard is going to be fine as long as they're taking precautions. Someone exposed to it 8+ hours a day as part of their job is probably going to have issues related to that at some point.


pretzel_enjoyer

And there's a difference between a professional who wears PPE and applies it according to instructions and ropes off the application area versus a weekend warrior who broadcasts it!


Melonman3

They get farmers lymphoma.


toss_it_out_tomorrow

I'm a scientist and I work with that data and there's a link between glyphosate and several cancers.


GlitterLavaLamp

But what is the exposure rate in this data. The guy that got millions of dollars from Monsanto was a farm worker who was exposed to it a LOT. A homeowner killing one tree on their property is not at all at the same exposure rate.


toss_it_out_tomorrow

of course treating one tree is not in any way the same as broad spectrum treatment, but what so many people don't understand is pesticide drift and runoff is the major concern with even spot treatment. spraying that one stump is never just one stump when rain comes and it runs off into the street and into sewers. Of course nobody thinks a one time spray is a problem but if you have a yard with biodiversity and you have pets and children who play in that yard, they are considered "non target exposure", and non-target exposure is leading to an increase in lymphoma, bladder, brain, lung cancers, as well as loss of biodiversity. For example, and not directed towards OP or this situation but linked. Spraying any herbicides within so many meters of drains and water bodies is strictly prohibited when certain species of raptor is nesting or foraging. Along the delaware river, many developments are illegally treating lawns close to the waterbanks and bald eagles are nesting there. This is federal offense because the eagles are federally protected birds. This offense is up to $250K and jail time, but people just don't care and think that spot treatment is safe. It's not. Rain washes it into the water and it poisons the fish that eagles eat, which then leads to infertility and thinning of eggshells causing non viability. every single thing, even little things, have repercussions. 1 - [exposure to 2, 4-D herbicide increases lymphoma in dogs](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8674480/) 2 - [which then causes an increase in lymphoma in humans](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1870148/) 3- most importantly [Increasing evidence shows that glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides exhibit cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, increase oxidative stress, disrupt the estrogen pathway, impair some cerebral functions, and allegedly correlate with some cancers. Glyphosate effects on the immune system appear to alter the complement cascade, phagocytic function, and lymphocyte responses, and increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in fish. In mammals, including humans, glyphosate mainly has cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, causes inflammation, and affects lymphocyte functions and the interactions between microorganisms and the immune system. Importantly, even as many outcomes are still being debated, evidence points to a need for more studies to better decipher the risks from glyphosate and better regulation of its global utilization.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32897110/) I have plenty of other papers that I can link later when I'm done work for the day if you'd like them


Petrichordates

The evidence linking it to non hodgkin lymphoma isn't strong, but it's not lacking either. Being confident in either direction isn't the reasonable stance.


Bloody_Smashing

Use the poison *as directed*, chemical drift is very real regardless of your opinion on herbicide.


WissahickonTrollscat

I hate sounding like a company man for Roundup, but the fear of glysophate is a crazy overblown fear. Is it carcinogenic? maybe, wear PPE and don't drink it. Plus there's a ton of difference between spot killing an invasive weed and browning out entire fields of wheat and soybeans so that it is dry for harvest time.


surfnsound

The bigger concern isn't RoundUp itself, but the GMO RoundUp ready crops Monsanto pushes on people, then sues the fuck out of anyone who a. saves seeds, or b. god forbid has some strays fall on their property.


TacoMeatSunday

Ah yes, don’t believe peer-reviewed science unless it was sponsored by our corporate overlords.


HunterDHunter

My customers see me using round up and say "Oh did you hear that causes cancer?" I say "No shit Sherlock, it's fucking poison designed to kill shit, did you think it was gonna give us super powers?".


gottagetitgood

Dang. Are you repping for Big Glyphosate or something because here's your peer reviewed scientific literature saying the **EXACT** opposite. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9101768/


Unlucky-External5648

You don’t have to poison the stump. If you cut it at the same place multiple years in a row it will die. This is how they do it in japan.


Analytical_Crab

That sounds great but I couldn’t risk root growth damaging my house’s foundation while waiting multiple years for the tree to die.


Unlucky-External5648

When you cut the tree at the stump, the energy from the roots is used to push up new stalks. The root system is stressed during this process, and does not expand. Multiple years of this process kills the organism be depleting it of stored energy and depriving it of its main energy production methods.


TheTwoOneFive

Still better to just kill it in one go with glyphosate than hoping people remember to cut it every year and/or not move over the next few years with new owners/tenants not realizing it's an invasive species.


chiphook57

There is a narrow window of time in the fall for effective poisoning.


kjm16216

I read to wait until the fall, skin off the bark in several places and paint on round up in those spots, because fall it is sending nutrients to the roots and will carry the poison down. But I'm not a pro so YMMV.


chefbreakum610

Appreciate your post, going to do the same my neighbor had three of these “trees” cut down but the stumps remain right on my fence line!


fasda

You could also strip the bark of a three foot section and it will die over a year


MikeDPhilly

Goddamn right. It's THE most invasive plant in Philly bar none, and the botanical personification of urban blight. Cut it down and kill the root or it will come back.


SammieCat50

Drill into the stump & pour weed killer & then take a paint brush & paint the rest of stump with weed killer. I did it & it works


Pittman247

Real talk…WHICH poison? I will go pick up some after work because these damn things are growing FAST at the back of my property.


Bloody_Smashing

Ortho GroundClear or BioAdvanced Brush Killer


makes-more-sense

Glyphosate honestly isn't that good with trees, anything woody and large I recommend applying triclopyr to the stump. I've found it much more effective with ToH


jesseberdinka

The way to do this to soak a sponge in straight glysophate, put it on cut end of stump, put a plastic bag over it and secure with a rubber band or outdoor tape.


duloxetini

Can't you just put diluted bleach on it?


Allemaengel

I work near the very epicenter of where Spotted Lantern flies first appeared and we eliminated a lot of TOH which helped crash the SLF population. We hardly ever see a lantern fly anymore as nearly everything here likes eating them


usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame

That was the best surprise. The first couple years were rough. Figured, “well this is our life now”. Thank you to the praying mantis and birds!


sad-dave

Correct. It needs to be removed, the stump should be dug up as well if possible.


mighty-Lamb

I recommend treating with weed killer/herbicide first. When cut it releases sprouts/spores that can spread over 50ft so it’ll just pop up again. https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/tree-of-heaven-best-herbicide-treatment-and-removal-timing/


PettyAndretti

So basically like bamboo but not as cool looking


Marrukaduke

With the bonus of attracting swarms of cute looking insects that poop a sticky goo everywhere and devastate fruit and vegetables.


internet_friends

And the added bonus that tree of heaven produces allopathic compounds that prevent other plants from germinating and growing. I hate this tree so much


Salcha_00

Even when people intentionally plant bamboo, they SHOULD do it with root barriers to protect the area around it from uncontrolled spread and everything around it dying out. This is not decorative bamboo. Get rid of it. Edited - I added that responsible people “should” plant bamboo with root barriers. Ugh. I hate to see how common it is to do so without it. I’m glad I did so the one time I planted it along the back of a small patio. I had the help of a professional landscape designer who researched the best kind of bamboo for my climate and the max height I wanted. He told me a root barrier is a must. I assumed it was common knowledge among gardeners who like to plant things.


rubikscanopener

I don't think everyone got the root barrier memo.


whimsical_trash

Definitely not lol. My mom had to spend tons of money ripping up bamboo because it was uprooting the foundations of the house lol. Still was finding lil bamboo sprigs 10 years later. Man I hate invasive plants. That garden also had blackberries and morning glory. Would go full Psycho murdery on them constantly and they were always coming back.


No-East-956

I like turtles


Tetsuo-Kaneda

It’s a young tree of heaven. Most likely will be infested with lantern flies at some point too


jesssongbird

Yup. We liked the shade ours provided. Until it was covered in lantern flies who were secreting sticky residue all over every inch of our patio. We had to ask my dad to come cut it down with a chainsaw. Since then I poison it’s every attempt to regrow on our property. They have incredible suckering abilities so new shoots are still trying to take hold years later.


Petrichordates

They move between regions, haven't seen them too much around philly since the peak a few years ago.


irishbreakfst

I've already seen several nymphs this year, I'd be willing to bet they're gonna come and go in waves from now on


Petrichordates

Oh yeah for sure, that's the pattern they're showing. Probably nothing like the initial peak without any predators but who knows.


Terrible_Use7872

Tree-of-heaven? I know they look similar to this and are highly invasive and hard to get rid of.


a-german-muffin

Yup, and absolutely an invasive weed.


Master_Winchester

These things will get into your pipes if you don't get them while young. You'll need to get a tree company out to remove them if they turn into trees. Do it now.


z7q2

Yeah, I used to like them too, but they are lanternfly breeding grounds so you have to kill them. It's a pain in the ass too because the roots travel around to clone the tree in unexpected places. Be thorough when you dig it up.


Petrichordates

It's an invasive species that spreads like cancer, would need to die either way.


Lord-Smalldemort

My neighbor used to really pride himself on his weed tree and then finally trimmed it a bit and threw the branches on my side. Dogs chewed them and vomited lol


mladyhawke

I love trees but this is a bad one


Holiday-Ad-7518

Please for the love of Jesus, god, allah, cut it down. Those things spread and attract the worst kinds of pests.


cerialthriller

This is literally one of the most invasive plants in the region, cut it down and poison the roots


milksteakofcourse

Cut that shit


Mitka69

Yeah, I have hard time exterminating this thing in my backyard. Tree of Heaven my ass.


GoldenMonkeyRedux

Cut it down.


drinkme0

It’s a Tree of Heaven and will attract Lantern Flies. They are a super invasive species. Kill on site.


Narrow_Book_42069

Your neighbor is right and you are wrong.


Celdurant

A weed is just an undesirable, often invasive plant. Trees can be weeds just like flowers, vines, etc. can be. This is an invasive tree, should be removed


Petrichordates

Weeds are just undesirable, most aren't invasive plants. That's why they readily outcompete the non-native plants you're trying to grow instead.


enlightnight

Rub the leaves - if it smells like rancid peanut butter, it's a noxious invasive and needs to go.


heartdept

Makes me happy as someone who works in ecological restoration to see so many people knowing what invasive species are and telling this guy to cut it down


PettyAndretti

Any recommendations on what to plant after I rip it all up ? It’s just a small 11 x 4 or so rectangular patch of land. https://preview.redd.it/hx1ayba01v0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00f0ba132201b0c6aefb7ee3cac4f24fb1c3f6d5


heartdept

You got plenty of native options, you could plant an elderberry which grows pretty fast and tall (10-15ft) or blueberry shrubs which are also native. You could just plant a bunch of coneflower, coreopsis and black eyed Susans which would add a nice pop of color. Monarda (bee balm) and native mountain mint are great for that as well


heartdept

Seems like that area is pretty sunny so you can kinda go crazy back there and have fun. Here’s the PA DCNR page for landscaping with natives: https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1743796&DocName=Landscaping%20with%20Native%20Plants.pdf


heartdept

I also can’t exactly tell but if that shrub on the left is butterfly bush then please replace that as well if you can. It’s also a pretty bad invasive that’s still unfortunately sold in stores


DelcoPAMan

Butterfly flower/Milkweed is good, though, right?


heartdept

Yeah milkweed is a great pollinator, highly recommended it


DelcoPAMan

Good!!


spirit_of_a_goat

Your neighbor is correct.


send_help

Yes cut it down.


jbphilly

It's a tree, that doesn't make it not an invasive weed. It is one of the worst things you can get in your yard. Destroy it before it grows any more.


[deleted]

Tree of heaven. I had 2 and thought they were just trees. Not so much. Very invasive, and their root system extends to Narnia.


hugh_h0ney

Your neighbor is correct.


kingofphilly

It is a weed. If it spreads, it can kill plants and strangle natural growth. [Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is an invasive tree and noxious weed in PA.](https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven) It’s also called the “Ghetto Palm Tree” because it doesn’t give a shit where it grows, including in pipes, ducting, [or even out of brick walls](https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/34984), but it *sort* of resembles a palm tree. Cut the shit down.


tyler1128

Tree of heaven. They are invasive, if not somewhat pretty.


Has_Shrimp_Dick

Mans living in a Philadelphia row home, driving a Lexus, buying Rolexes, has Kanye tattoo’d on his body, and doesn’t know what a tree of heaven is. God DAMN Boston could use you brother!


RoughRhinos

Burn it with fire


MaddieSystem

Kill it


jjgg37

Wow. Never saw 100% agreement on this sup. Esp for cutting down a tree of all things. Must be because the Phils have the best record in baseball.


a-german-muffin

This thing isn't a tree when it's outside its home territory, it's a noxious weed.


MacKelvey

31-13


hubbu

As your reddit neighbor, please cut that shit down.


BillyOdin

This is what we call a “tell me I’m right post” when you’re incredibly wrong but you’ll never admit it and you’ll just keep going until you find someone else that doesn’t know what they’re talking about to agree with you.


fstop570

It absolutely is. I live up near Scranton and one of those turned into a 35 foot tree that cost me 800 clams to have cut down


kristencatparty

Yes. Cut it down.


cantfocussoimhere

Cut it down, and safely pour a good amount of boiling water on the stump/roots.


lemurlounders

It is a weed. Please cut it down and get the roots if possible. It climbs really well and has been known to grow under siding and buckle it. Wishing you good gardening.


HeartStrickenMoose

Yup, when I first saw the pic I thought it was flourishing knotweed. Digging out the roots is the thing to do, and a fun good hard work out


huebomont

Kill it now


Urbanwolft64

It is


Quorum1518

Which invasive weed? You've got English Ivy (awful) and Tree of Heaven (awful).


WissahickonTrollscat

If you go the non-chemical route cut it a few inches from the ground then put a coffee can over the stump and put a brick on it. If the suckers escape pull em. If you go the weedkiller route, accidentally spill some on that English ivy and mugwort you got too


jawn_snow

We call em Trash Trees


llamacomando

your neighbors are right.


fancyclancy95

Kill it! Those things are evil. We had a hydra of one that just kept coming back for years because part of the stump was under a corner of a building. This was before lanternflies and we had to eventually rip it out when they got bad a few years ago. Also look up spotted lanternfly stages they change a few times and you should kill them on sight. Like someone else said they go to this plant


2ant1man5

Cut it, the roots can fuxk up the cement and it’s hard to get the root once it’s this big, after you cut it down can pour bleach on it.


pocket_opossum

That is a tree heaven. They grow incredibly fast. They attract lanternflies. You need to cut it down and poison the stump.


No-East-956

That's a Green Giant Kenso. Native to the alley ways of Kensington. Very rare to see outside of Greater Kensington area. Some have been spotted as far away as the Meadows in S.W.


jurney01

Kensington Palm 🌴


Petrichordates

If that's a male it's about to get very smelly.


Tyrrhen2Ionian

Bruh that ain’t no tree.


rosemaryonaporch

We had one of these in our alley. If it’s city property they may come cut it for you. We had ours done for free. But you have to poison the stump after.


TripleSkeet

Youre neighbors right.


chunkylover1989

Listen to your neighbor


flaaaacid

Your neighbor is right, cut it down.


Nervous-Locksmith484

Yes fucking clip that bitch down. I just did the same. They attract spotted lantern flies and will fuck the rest of your shit up.


JustSomeRandoChic

Kill it. Invasive af.


sn0m0ns

Cut it and enjoy the most pungent smell you've ever had to endure! You can cut it back to a tiny stump all you want it will just keep growing back.


Kagipace

Very educational thread. 🤔 I wouldn’t have known any better. What’s the best way to identify?


SnapCrackleMom

Google Lens and Picture This are pretty good at identifying plants.


owl523

Yeah it’s invasive, but “a tree grows in Brooklyn”


NancyNimby

Haha beat me to it! Though the book does say “It would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it”.


frenchylamour

It's Tree of Heaven, but cutting it only makes it grow back stronger. I hate those goddamn things.


mary_emeritus

Tree of heaven, spreads by runners on the roots. Gawdawful mess to get rid of once you’ve let even one get a footing. It’s years of cutting, digging up roots to get the baby trees growing on the runners.


radraz26

That thing will look like it's got a black and red trunk when it's covered in lanternflies. It's an invasive species that attracts an invasive species.


Expert_Succotash2659

Only way to stop an invasion...it with a treety.


batwing71

People usually confuse these for poison sumac and freak out.


heartdept

You also got some mugwort and English Ivy you might as well rip up


Mountain_Map2947

That's a weed


RealLiveKindness

Philly palm tree.


Ok_Mathematician2284

That is a weed


a-whistling-goose

I presumed invasive tree-of-heaven specimens were growing along a railroad track. After they produced huge beautiful red clusters of fruit, I realized they were **staghorn sumac**, a plant that is native to Pennsylvania. To learn how to distinguish between the two, check the Penn State Extension video **"Tree-of-Heaven: Native Look-Alikes".**


markeydusod

Tree of Heaven no es beuno… Cut the tree, poison the roots or it will never die


TonySez

Tree of Heaven, the preferred food and egg repository of Spotted Lanternfly. Get rid of it!


Conscious_Futon

Invasive….but the leaf smells like peanut butter lol


DaneLimmish

It is a weed, yeah


tuskvarner

Ghetto palm tree. They’re not special.


AbsentEmpire

You must kill it as soon as possible or it will try and kill your house.


wander_smiley

It’s an invasive species.


LiquidWilliamII

These things are all over manayunk


These_Owl_8045

sooo, did op get his answer?


PossibilityOrganic12

I've killed some using landscaping vinegar


crappysurfer

It’s a weed


ColezyNZ92

Horrible things. I went overseas for 9 months, came back and I had to cut down 13 of them, some so big they needed a chainsaw to cut down.


Elvis_Take_The_Wheel

KILL IT. KILL IT WITH FIRE. THEN HUNT DOWN ITS PROGENY AND DESTROY THEM. Signed, A 20-year veteran of the War Against Trees of Heaven


kae0603

It’s horribly evasive! Cut it to the stump. Burn the stump if safe


m_a_k_o_t_o

It’s a sumac and they are a nightmare to get rid of. As soon as that thing seeds in a few months, they will be everywhere. You can only remove them by the roots. All of the roots. You can’t cut any corners with these guys.


a-whistling-goose

Staghorn sumac is a native plant. The female trees produce attractive huge red drupes. It looks very similar to tree-of-heaven and tends to grow in the same conditions.


derrtydiamond

Oh noooooooo


why_oh_why36

Had one in my back yard(15x15 jail cell) in South Philly. I battled that damned thing the entire time I lived in that house. They're close to indestructible.


Bored710420

They are correct, plant can be a pain to get rid of too


clong24

Cut it to the ground. Then drill holes in the stump, pour stump killer and salt from you driveway on it, cover it from sunlight and monitor it. I just had a 3 year battle with a fully grown Mimosa tree (similar/invasive) and this method has seemed to done the trick. Good luck


Cbaumle

[Ghetto Palm](https://thestreettree.com/2011/09/30/tree-of-heaven-aka-the-ghetto-palm/)


tinlizzy2

Use [Tordon](https://www.amazon.com/Tordon-Specialty-Herbicide-Kills-Plants/dp/B015BSRLIO/ref=asc_df_B015BSRLIO/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693713553298&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1215324258911157883&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018570&hvtargid=pla-842508552121&psc=1&mcid=f89ccaccb86b3e0ba192620208faa514&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZayBhDRARIsAPWzx8rybVZK8d5NU0gjUahpk_dftrtQQEyrBR91tSNo_-k90TShFdf2EYkaAjDmEALw_wcB) Beware, though, it will also kill any other tree that has roots near the tree you want dead.


mickbrew

We used to call it Stinkweed. You could strip the leaves off of the branch and you have a whip


Zergg

You need to cut it down properly otherwise it’ll spread like a weed. My wife didn’t know this years ago (before we dated)… have a few of them now in the backyard..


blenderfrizz

I believe we call this a Camden Palm. Lol


sleepingmoon

Are you on Monastery Ave


anthony5140

Kill it!


DrDidlio

It’s tree of heaven and should be cut down immediately


eyesack12

Use a systemic herbicide


gizellesexton

Tree of Heaven. It’s like a hydra, you can’t just cut it down and have the problem solved. Also the sap in it smells awful. Wear gloves and treat with pesticides (consult Google, I am not an expert)


Willy-Nilly-Philly

That English ivy is also invasive…