Roanoke Tree Removal is a local referral service: we pass your request to an independent, local tree crew. We are not a government office, and this page is general information, not herbicide or pest-control advice for your property.
How to tell it's tree of heaven
Virginia Cooperative Extension's 2026 fact sheet gives these field marks:
- Leaves: compound, 1 to 3 feet long, with 9 to 41 leaflets. Each leaflet usually has a pair of small glandular teeth at its base.
- Twigs: stout, with large shield-shaped leaf scars. A broken twig smells like rancid or burnt peanut butter. Extension calls this the most convincing test.
- Bark: smooth and green when young, later gray and patterned like a cantaloupe.
- Growth: stems can grow 8 feet in a year and reach 100 feet, often in dense thickets.
Look-alikes: native sumacs carry small red, fuzzy fruit through winter, and black walnut has chambered pith and a citrus scent.
Why cutting alone fails
Extension says cutting alone will not kill it and will make it resprout vigorously. The Department of Forestry adds that once a stand is established it spreads mainly by root sprouting, and that the roots release a chemical that is toxic to some other plants. That's why a cut stump often sends up new stems. Our remove or trim guide covers trees where that isn't the issue.
Methods state foresters describe
| Method | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-pulling | Pull young seedlings before they set seed or form a taproot; easier after rain | Va. Dept. of Forestry, FT 55, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Foliar spray | For trees small enough to cover fully; 2% glyphosate, 1.5% triclopyr ester or 2% triclopyr amine, late in the growing season | Va. Dept. of Forestry, FT 55, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Hack-and-squirt | Downward cuts into the sapwood with a hand ax, herbicide into each cut within a minute or two; most effective on stems over 2 inches; triclopyr most often recommended | Va. Dept. of Forestry, FT 55, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Basal bark | 20–25% oil-soluble triclopyr ester in an oil carrier, in a 12-inch band around the base; generally for trees under 6 inches | Va. Dept. of Forestry, FT 55, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Cut-stump | Triclopyr verified effective for cut-stump, basal and foliar use | Va. Cooperative Extension 420-322, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
A summary of published guidance, not a recommendation for your yard. DOF says to read and follow all label instructions and warnings.
Timing
The Forestry Department rates hack-and-squirt as very effective in summer and says foliar sprays go on from summer to early fall, when trees move sugars to their roots. If you cut first, it suggests early summer, when root reserves are lowest. By late fall, much of the work is planning: mark the stems you want gone and ask a crew which treatment and timing they'd use.
Large trees and stumps
A tall tree of heaven over a roof or driveway is still a normal removal job: rigging, felling and hauling. The difference is follow-up. Grinding a stump doesn't take out the whole root system, so by Extension's guidance it still needs herbicide treatment or repeated cutting of sprouts. Ask whether a quote covers treatment and a return visit. See tree removal and stump grinding.
The spotted lanternfly connection
VDACS calls tree of heaven a favorite host of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that damages grapes, fruit trees, maples and other plants by feeding on sap. It was first found in Virginia in 2018 and is now in more than half of the state's counties and independent cities. Virginia repealed its lanternfly quarantine effective March 27, 2025.
VDACS no longer asks for lanternfly reports from Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem or Bedford, among others. Botetourt and Franklin counties are not on that list as of October 12, 2026; VDACS takes reports through its Invasive Species Reporting Tool. Its homeowner checklist says to scrape egg masses into a container of alcohol, diluted bleach or hand sanitizer from late September to May, and not to park vehicles under trees.
Hiring someone to apply herbicide
VDACS says anyone who applies pesticides in Virginia in exchange for compensation needs a pesticide business license, which requires insurance and a certified applicator on staff. Some tree crews hold one; others will cut and leave treatment to you or another company. Ask before you book.
What removal costs
| Tree height | Published national range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 30 ft | $150 – $450 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| 30 – 60 ft | $450 – $1,200 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| 60 – 80 ft | $800 – $1,500 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,000 – $2,000 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Stump removal, first stump | $100 – $150 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
Angi's national figures ($200 to $2,000 or more, average around $750), not Roanoke quotes. They don't include herbicide treatment or return visits. See tree removal cost by size.
Get help with tree of heaven
Call (540) 904-1819 or use the form. Tell us roughly how many stems there are, the size of the largest one and whether it's near a house, wires or a fence.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Invasive Plant Species: Ailanthus, pub. 420-322 (revised Feb 2026) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Forestry, Ailanthus Control Methods, Forestry Topic 55 (PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Forestry, Control and Utilization of Tree-of-Heaven (PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- VDACS, Spotted Lanternfly (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- VDACS, Repeal of Virginia's Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine (Mar 27, 2025) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- VDACS, Spotted Lanternfly homeowner tips and checklist (PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- VDACS, Pesticide Business License (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia DCR, Virginia Invasive Plant Species List, effective Sept 2024 (PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Angi, tree removal cost (updated Jul 8, 2026) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
Common questions
Will cutting down a tree of heaven kill it?
No. Virginia Cooperative Extension says cutting alone causes vigorous resprouting, and must be combined with herbicide unless the entire root system is dug out.
What herbicide works on tree of heaven?
Extension says triclopyr has been verified effective through basal, foliar and cut-stump applications. The Department of Forestry also lists glyphosate for foliar sprays. Always follow the label.
When is the best time to treat tree of heaven?
The Virginia Department of Forestry says hack-and-squirt is very effective in summer, and foliar sprays work from summer to early fall.
Do I need to report spotted lanternfly in Roanoke?
VDACS no longer requires reports from Roanoke City, Roanoke County or Salem. It still takes reports through its Invasive Species Reporting Tool for areas not on its list.
How can I identify tree of heaven?
Look for compound leaves with 9 to 41 leaflets that have small teeth at the base, and break a twig: Extension says it smells like rancid or burnt peanut butter.