Quck answer
Palmetto bushes can be difficult to kill due to their resilient root system. To effectively eliminate them, follow these steps:
1. Cut the palmetto bush down to ground level using pruning shears or a saw.
2. Dig around the base of the bush to expose the roots.
3. Use a shovel or ax to sever the main roots as close to the base as possible.
4. Remove as much of the root system as you can, ensuring no new growth can occur.
5. Apply an herbicide specifically designed to kill woody plants to any remaining roots or stumps.
6. Monitor the area for any regrowth and repeat the process as necessary.
Remember to wear protective clothing and follow the instructions on the herbicide label for safety and effectiveness.
The growth of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is common in the southeastern United States, where it fills the forest floor as a scruffy plant in its natural habitat. These plants have multiple trunks that crawl along the ground and are topped with fan-shaped fronds, making them a suitable option for ground cover in landscaping. However, if you no longer desire to have palmetto bushes, removing them can be quite challenging as they are persistent and can continue to grow even after removal.
Saw palmetto bushes are perennials found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. The dwarf palm (Sabal minor), which is found in USDA zones 7 through 10, has similar growth habits and can be eliminated using the same methods as saw palmetto.
Growth Characteristics of Palmetto Bushes
Palmetto bushes have a slow growth rate and can reach heights of up to 8 feet. The trunks grow in clumps and mature clumps can measure up to 18 feet across. While the large trunks are visible above ground, they also have strong stems beneath the soil. Even if the visible part of the plant is cut or killed, the plant remains alive in these underground stems and eventually regrows new trunks and fronds above ground.
Cutting Palmetto Bushes
If you want to immediately get rid of the trunks and foliage, you can cut back the woody trunks of palmetto bushes to the ground. You can use a chain saw, hand saw, or even an axe to cut through the relatively soft trunks. In a clump that measures 18 feet across, there may be numerous trunks to cut.
However, this method does not completely eliminate the palmetto bush. Expect new growth within a couple of months. If you continuously cut down the new foliage as soon as it grows, you can eventually kill the underground stems because the plants will lack the ability to carry out photosynthesis and store energy in the underground stems. It may take several years to completely eliminate a large clump of palmetto bushes using this method.
Digging Palmetto Bushes
If you dig out the underground stems from the ground, they will not be able to produce new shoots. Basic digging tools such as a shovel, mattock, and pick axe are all you need to remove the roots of the palmetto bush, but it is certainly not an easy task. The dense clumps are difficult to dig around and can spread beyond the reach of the visible trunks above ground.
Use a pruning saw to cut the roots into smaller pieces, making them easier to remove. Even with careful sifting through the soil, a few root pieces are likely to remain, so it is important to monitor the area and remove any new shoots that may appear. Fill in the vacant spaces left after removing the roots with clean fill dirt.
Eliminating Palmetto Bushes with Herbicides
Using herbicides is a less labor-intensive method to kill palmetto bushes, but it is still a challenging option. The most effective herbicides are too potent for home gardeners to purchase and can only be applied by professional landscapers and arborists. Most herbicides available for home garden use are ineffective against palmetto bushes.
Triclopyr, a specific weed killer for bushes, has been proven to offer 72% effectiveness when used in a 4% solution. Different concentrations of triclopyr products are available for purchase, but a product with a 54% triclopyr content should be mixed with 5 1/3 ounces of water per gallon to achieve a 4% solution. This solution can be sprayed onto the leaves and trunks, or alternatively, you can cut the trunks and apply it to the freshly cut surface. Repeat this process once a month until no new shoots emerge.
