As an almost lifelong resident of Georgia, two things are important about this story.
First, they are targeting SWEETGUM TREES. In almost every part of Georgia (except, perhaps the "hysterical district" of Savannah), sweetgun is considered a "weed".
Secondly, you can't really KILL a Sweetgum EVEN with 5 gallons of Clorox and Boric acid. I've tried! I've taken the ALL the bark off six feet from the root. THEY STILL WON'T DIE!
If ole Jeff (obviously, NOT from around here) really wants to save those nasty, ball thowing, shoe ruining, sending kids to the emergency room, eyesores, all he has to do is make a "paste from pine pitch, Carbola and water and "whitewash" it with the cheapest, nastiest paint brush he can find. Then, they'll live to stink and throw mini shoe mines for another 500 year!
GOD, I hate those trees. If you had ever smelled one in the late fall, you would too! They make male Ginko trees smell like Coco Channel.
If the police ever "really" gets interested in finding the culprit, all he has to do is look at chainsaw owners, downwind!
