The previous owners cut down this tree but left the stump. I can’t tell if these shoots are a product of the tree trying to regrow or the previous owners threw some seed on it to cover it up. Either way I’m sick of trimming them down. Any ideas on how to kill them off?
by MattyIceandtheboys
34 Comments
Mow it
Push that mower over them.
Spray a commercial ground clearing killer, relax and wait
Triclopyr. Often callled “brush killer” or “for poison ivy”.
Landscaper?
Goats.
I had the same issue with a tree that I removed – but even after grinding out the stump. I mowed it consistently and it stopped putting up shoots after 2 years or so. Applying a product that contains 2-4,D (common herbicide) will help a great deal. More than 1 application will likely be necessary.
Bill
Who? Not me 🙂↔️
Kevin? Maybe John?
What’s that machine you have near them?
If you live locally in NOVA I would do it. But set your mower to highest setting and do it or if you own a commercial grade weed Wacker. Then use 1 gallon vinegar to 2 or 3 cups salt mix let salt dissolve add 1 tblspoon dawn dish soap after to avoid foaming. Then spray to any weed areas. Repeat if it rains obviously. But do it twice if needed.. or use boiling hot water this works as well. You can use a torch and propane tank and have fun after which still use the vinegar solution formentioned . These are your natural ways or invest in a goat.
Incorrect. Please do not take the post to your comment in a negative manner. Salt is needed believe it or not. Excess is what kills. This can be reversed once the weeds have died. I do horticulture for a living. I went to college for this.
Plant Response to Salinity Levels
Salinity Level (mmhos/cm)Effects0.40-0.80Very slightly saline; 25-50% decrease in yields of carrots, onions, peppers, lettuce0.81-1.20Moderately saline; seedling injury possible; 25-50% decrease in yields of broccoli, potatoes1.21-160Saline; beets tolerant1.61-3.20Strongly saline
I don’t know who, maybe a landscaper?
Spray it with a non selective herbicide, maybe add a bit of Dawn dish soap to the spray help as a sticking agent.
Smother it with tarps, and stake them down. Anything under the tarp will be dead and eaten by bugs before long.
You asked for ways in which to deal with the issue
; posted are several solutions depending on the effects you desire from affected zones. Should you desire you do have another alternative. Till it 6in.
Not me
Just mow them to hell and back !
A Gardner will bring his own [brushcutter](https://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimmers-and-brushcutters/brushcutters-and-clearing-saws/)
But is it’s only that small area, just bring branch shears, and cut the thickest wood all the way close to the ground, then just mow over it. Looks like their might be some stone in there too, so make sure you set the mower at max height the first time, so you don’t break your blades.
A goat.
I do this for a living. Your not saturating and soaking the ground folks geesh. It’s called spray not garden hose.
Spray with brush killer, following package recommendations. Then rent a stump grinder, maybe some fill dirt, then reseed.
Id use concentrated Round up on it straight without diluting it. It’s my go to for all the invasive trees we have here in Florida. I paint on though instead of spraying to reduce the exposure to all things native.
Lookit! I got an idea. Why don’t you just put chocolate all over it and let Chunk eat his way through?
Probably make my wife do it.
Mow it. Loam it. Seed it. Mow it.
Next year
Mow it. Loam, it Seed it. Weed and Feed it.
Don’t be afraid to yank some out with your hands, too. You’ll get through it.
People are saying to mow it. I say don’t mow it, this looks like it could be somewhat thick. Use a hedge trimmer if it’s thick stems / branches, cutting as low as you can get. You might be able to use a weed whacker if the stems aren’t too thick, but a hedge trimmer would easily get rid of all of that.
You might run into some trouble mowing. Lawn mowers aren’t built to mow things larger than them (commercial zero turns are an exception, but our push mower certainly isn’t). You *could* mow it if you don’t mind pulling branches out of your mower every 5 minutes while working or having to push pretty hard to get anywhere.
But if you have a hedge trimmer on hand, I would just use that.
Rent a goat.
Fire
I think all the actual landscapers in this sub are at work right now. These comments are so wrong. Just use a hedge trimmer or a weed whacker. Mower isn’t built to handle stems like that.
Goats
Call a tree removal guy, they’ll grind the stump if you really want that shit dead. Otherwise you use a hand drill and put 1-10 holes in it and fill it with “stump out” it will kill the remaining roots and such
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