Knowledgebase

Tree of Heaven on county property #925522

Asked March 06, 2026, 11:42 AM EST

The tree of heaven is behind my house all along the B&A bike trail. How can I report it so it can be ripped out or sprayed? We had so many spotted lantern flies last year. Greenway Rd Glen Burnie

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

As Extension isn't a regulatory entity, we don't always have information about which agencies are collecting reports of invasive species or other issues. In this case, we recommend you reach out to county or municipal government to ask. Tree-of-Heaven (and Spotted Lanternfly) is abundant across the state, so we think it's unlikely local government has the financial or labor means to address them at this point, with or without chemical treatment methods. (Especially considering that, for public safety, killed trees near paths, roads, and buildings would need to be taken down after they're dead so they don't fall and cause damage or injuries, and tree removal costs might be hundreds or thousands of dollars per tree depending on its size and location. With Tree-of-Heaven common in habitats near buildings and pavement, that may add up to a prohibitive cost in addition to herbicide and paying for a certified applicator to apply it.)

Tree-of-Heaven should not be cut down without first treating it with a systemic herbicide (best done in early autumn, and it will take about a month to kill enough roots to enable removal). This is because removal can stimulate the growth of prolific suckers which will add to eradication cost and time. If a systemic herbicide can kill the roots first, the risk of regrowth is greatly reduced. You can learn more on the linked page, which connects to a Penn State page with more detail that includes a calendar for removal/treatment options.

Miri

Loading ...