Black cherry trees and livestock don’t mix

Source: Jeff Stringer, extension forestry specialist

Black cherry trees grow in abundance across Kentucky’s landscape. These trees are an important timber and wildlife species, yet can cause cyanide poisoning in livestock.

The leaves of the trees, especially wilted ones, are high in cyanic acid, which can kill livestock by depriving them of oxygen.

You can reduce the likelihood of livestock losses due to wild black cherry trees by cutting them out of fence rows. You may want to remove cherry trees that pose a risk, such as those that could potentially lose branches or are in poor condition. But you can leave healthy, well-pruned trees to become a potential timber source.

If you are going to take out a tree, it is important to do it properly to reduce sprouting and recurrence. Black cherry trees have a propensity to sprout from the cut stump and from the roots, so take extra precautions. Also, you should check fence rows for the trees’ inevitable from seed carried by birds.

The quickest way to reduce or eliminate sprouting is to properly use herbicides that are labeled for controlling black cherry in pasture or fence rows. These herbicides are systemic, meaning they will travel throughout the plant and have the potential to kill all or a portion of the root system so that sprouting is reduced or eliminated.

If you don’t use herbicides, you can expect sprouting, and you’ll probably have to cut several times to exhaust the food supply to the roots. This could take several years.

You can apply herbicides in one of two methods, foliar spray or “cut stump” applications.

You can use a foliar spray if the trees are small enough to allow spray coverage of all or a large majority of the leaves. This technique involves spraying a diluted concentration of herbicide to cover the foliage.

Many herbicides are labeled for foliage application of brush and trees. Foliar applications work best after trees have fully leafed out until one or two weeks prior to leaf fall. The treated tree should remain in place until all the foliage has browned, ensuring that the herbicide has entered the root system.

Check product labels for restrictions on pasturing and entry into treated areas. Generally, livestock should not be allowed access to areas where trees have been sprayed until the trees have been removed or wilting foliage is no longer present.

Larger trees should be cut down and then a herbicide treatment applied to the cut stump. This method involves spraying the freshly cut stump with a concentrated herbicide solution. It is important that you apply a concentrated solution according to label directions.

A number of herbicides are labeled for stump application including those with active ingredients such as glyphosate, triclopyr and dicamba. It is also critical to treat the stump as soon as possible and no longer than an hour after the top has been exposed to air. Waiting longer could reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

If the tree has been cut within several weeks, it may be possible to recut the stump by at least two inches to expose moist, live wood and then apply the herbicide.

Cut stump applications generally carry less environmental risks than foliar applications because you apply the herbicide directly to the target plant with less risk of overspray and non-target exposure, with one exception.

It is possible that the treated cherry trees may be root grafted to an adjacent black cherry or ornamental/cherry tree. Instances have been documented where a herbicide has moved from a treated tree to another of the same species or genera through a root graft. While this is not a high probability, in areas where other cherry trees are present, you should consider mechanical removal of the tree.

For more information on cherry trees and livestock, contact the Clinton County Cooperative Extension Service at 606-387-5404.

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Upcoming Events

The Clinton County Farm Bureau Federation has been approved to administer the County Agriculture Investment Program (CAIP) for 2014. Producers interested in signing up for the program can pick up an application at the Extension Office on Monday, May 12th -Friday May 23rd. Completed applications must be returned to the Extension office by 4:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, May 23rd. There will be an informational meeting held on Thursday May 15th at 6:00 p.m., at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, program overview and changes will be discussed. For more information call the Extension Office at 606-387-5404

Celebrate 100 years

of Extension

On Thursday May 8th the Clinton County Extension Office will celebrate the 100th year of the Cooperative Extension Service. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which created the National Cooperative Extension Service; make plans to stop by the Extension Office on May 8th from 3:30-5:30 p.m. to help celebrate with us!