The United States Department of Agriculture takes herbicide application practices very seriously. You have to have a state pesticide handlers license to apply many of these chemicals or even to purchase them. I have developed this list of chemicals as a general overview of herbicides used to control of woody stemmed pests.
Here are some application methods for these chemicals which should be used according to labeling instructions.
These chemicals are listed by generic name, brand name and application method. All links are to Cornell University's Pesticide Management Education Program. This is not an all inclusive listing and is intended to give an overall view of available woody stem control chemicals:
- Amitrole (Amitrol-T) - foliar spray
- Bromacil (Hyvar) - broadcast treatment
- 2,4-D (several trade names) - foliar spray
- Dichlorprop (2,4-DP, Weedone 2,4-DP) - foliar spray
- Dicamba (Banvel) - cut surface
- Fosamine (Krenite) - foliage treatment
- Glyphosate (Roundup) - foliar spray
- Hexazinone (Velpar) - soil uptake
- Imazapyr (Arsenal) - foliar, frill, stump treatment
- Metsulfuron (Escort) - foliar spray
- Picloram (Tordon) - broadcast, foliar, frill treatment
- Tebuthiuron (Spike) - broadcast treatment
- Triclopyr (Garlon) - spray
This listing is intended to be used as a general guide only. Before using any herbicide consult the label before using. Remember that labels change frequently and often contain special restrictions reguarding specific use of the chemical.

Comments
Are hedge bushes considered a woody stem “tree” that these herbecides can be used on?