Not sure what this is and there’s a bunch. Didn’t realize how big it had gotten. Do I need to rip this out?

by Gullible-Leg1508

20 Comments

  1. ShdwDrgn66

    Remove it and be ready for some extra effort. Bought a house this year and there’s a Tree of Heaven next to the garage that’s doing it’s best to break down the concrete. Stupid thing was a bear to get out!

  2. flybasilisk

    Not all of this is tree of heaven, i think the plant is picture 2 is winged sumac.
    The rest is tree of heaven though.

  3. fullcolorkitten

    They’re very difficult to remove and they send out runners so keep an eye out for little babies popping up all around, further away than you’d imagine too

  4. KaizokuShojo

    It has the little thumbs, tree of heaven.

    Use plant killer because iirc ripping it out makes it sucker even more. There should be a state ag site with full recommendations.

  5. Must be killed before pulling out. Will multiple like crazy if done incorrectly.

  6. falgfalg

    see how the leaves in pic 1 have little “thumbs” at the base? that’s ToH. if you look at the underside, you’ll see a little tiny scent gland there. in pic 2, see the “wings” down the length of stem where the leaves attach? that’s winged sumac (a native)

  7. reddidendronarboreum

    The first and last picture are tree-of-heaven (*Ailanthus altissima*), a highly invasive species that is difficult to remove without following the proper procedure. The other two pictures are winged sumac (*Rhus copallinum*), a native shrub or small tree that you may or may not want.

  8. glacierosion

    How do your sinuses perceive the smell of tree of Hell? I think it smells like some overcooked grilled chicken

  9. ezlikesunmorning78

    Looks like sumac to me.

    Edit: Oh yeah now I see ToH.

  10. phoenix_master42

    first one id definitely a tree of heaven second is a sumac of somekind im fairly sure its nor smooth or staghorn but I could be arong

  11. Worldly-Owl-7782

    I wouldn’t use the term weed since weed just means a plant you don’t want growing there nothing more, like a tomato can be a weed or a cactus etc

  12. Looks like tree of heaven, super invasive and spreads fast. If you dont want it taking over your yard, its best to pull it or cut it out completely before it gets bigger and harder to manage.

  13. RareHorse7376

    To reiterate what a couple others have said, do not cut it. Do not pull it. I made that mistake myself.

    You have to kill the roots. Glyphosate for the foliage. Triclopyr ester in basal oil for the trunks. This is the time of year to get started on it. For more info, check out the PSU Extension post someone else posted. Good stuff in there.

  14. brittleknight

    Winged sumac has amazing sumac fruit to dehydrate and use as a spice!

  15. ThisIsNoArtichoke

    Pics 1 & 4 are Tree of Heaven, an invasive weed that’s native to Asia. Pics 2 & 3 are winged sumac, a native in North America. Keep an eye on the Tree of Heaven and keep pulling up any new shoots. It’s best to do it after a rain while the ground is soft. Be gentle so you can get the entire root system out, tap root and all. This will probably take several tries, as it’s a pretty resilient plant that can regrow from broken root pieces, so rinse and repeat as needed. Left unattended, tree of heaven can grow into buildings and wreak havoc on concrete foundations. If you’re not sure if you have tree of heaven or not, break a leaf and sniff it. It has a distinctive odor that smells like nasty peanut butter or baked beans. Some people with sensitive skin experience irritation when they touch it, but I’ve never experienced that. Use gloves if you need to, and good luck!

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