When aiming to kill woody plants, what must be ensured regarding the herbicide?

When managing woody plants with herbicides, it is crucial that the herbicide translocates to the roots of the plants. This property allows the herbicide to effectively move throughout the entire plant system, reaching critical areas such as the roots where energy and nutrients are stored. Since woody plants often have extensive root systems that support their growth and survival even during adverse conditions, ensuring translocation enables the herbicide to disrupt vital physiological functions, thereby leading to the plant's demise.

While contact herbicides can kill the above-ground parts of the plants, they may not effectively control woody species without penetrating down to the critical structures. Simply applying a herbicide only on the surface may result in only temporary control, as the plant could resprout from roots that remain alive. Application solely to the soil does not guarantee that the herbicide will sufficiently reach all necessary parts of the plant.

Thus, translocation is key in achieving long-term control over woody plants, allowing the treatment to be effective at the root level, where it can eliminate the plant's ability to regrow.