Tree of Heaven Is Back — Cutting It Won't Cut It

A Burlington resident is sounding the alarm about Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) spotted at Aldershot School — and more importantly, about how it's being handled. The invasive trees growing in the beds at the front of the school were recently cut down to just an inch or two above the surface. Sounds like progress, right? Not quite. Tree of Heaven is notoriously stubborn — cutting it at ground level actually stimulates new growth, meaning those stumps will almost certainly be sending up new shoots before long. Tree of Heaven is one of Ontario's most aggressive invasive species. It spreads quickly, crowds out native plants, and is notoriously difficult to eradicate once established. Simply cutting it back is one of the least effective methods of control — the roots survive and the tree returns, often with renewed vigour. For Burlington residents dealing with Tree of Heaven on their own properties, there are better approaches. Penn State Extension has a solid rundown of control strategies at extension.psu.edu, covering everything from herbicide application timing to the "hack and squirt" method that targets the root system directly. A Virginia Cooperative Extension video is also available on YouTube for a visual walkthrough. If you spot Tree of Heaven on city property or in a park near you, it's worth flagging with the City of Burlington — the earlier it's caught, the easier it is to manage properly.