Redbud trunk: How to get rid of it? - Ask Extension
Hello! We have a weed redbud tree growing between our fence and an old retaining wall. We cut down what we could, but this small stump remains. We'...
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Redbud trunk: How to get rid of it? #870504
Asked May 28, 2024, 7:20 PM EDT
Hello! We have a weed redbud tree growing between our fence and an old retaining wall. We cut down what we could, but this small stump remains. We're afraid if we try to maul the stump, the wall will be hurt.
Is there any way to take out the trunk so the tree doesn't regrow? Thank you.
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Other than physical removal, the only other option (if you're trying to kill the roots) is to keep cutting off all foliage until the roots run out of energy for regrowth, or treat the plant with a systemic herbicide that the stump absorbs and moves into roots. When cut-stump chemical treatments are made, the herbicide usually needs to be applied within minutes of the fresh cut, but refer to product instructions for use as this may vary from one formulation to another. How long the chemical-free approach would take is hard to guess, but it might be a few more weeks depending on how much stored energy is in its roots that will fuel more foliage regrowth.
Miri
Miri
Thank you, Miri! I didn't know that the roots might run out of energy so quickly. We have a mulberry weed tree that we're eternally trying to cut down, and it keeps growing back.
What is an example of a systemic herbicide?
Take care,
Cathy
Hello Cathy,
Mulberries are indeed very tenacious trees, and that degree of resprouting vigor is not unusual for them. We can't really predict how much stored energy a sapling redbud will have in its roots, but we'd guess it's not enough to keep regrowing after just a few cut-downs.
Several different active ingredients in herbicides are systemic. Typical examples found in many over-the-counter products include glyphosate and triclopyr. Roundup is one example of a widely-recognized brand, but not all Roundup formulations use glyphosate (or only glyphosate), and not all products containing glyphosate are Roundup, which is why we usually only mention the active ingredient itself and not a brand name. (Plus, we don't endorse any particular brands.) As with any pesticide, always make sure you read and follow the product's label instructions to minimize any risk to other plants, the environment, and the applicator themselves.
Miri
Mulberries are indeed very tenacious trees, and that degree of resprouting vigor is not unusual for them. We can't really predict how much stored energy a sapling redbud will have in its roots, but we'd guess it's not enough to keep regrowing after just a few cut-downs.
Several different active ingredients in herbicides are systemic. Typical examples found in many over-the-counter products include glyphosate and triclopyr. Roundup is one example of a widely-recognized brand, but not all Roundup formulations use glyphosate (or only glyphosate), and not all products containing glyphosate are Roundup, which is why we usually only mention the active ingredient itself and not a brand name. (Plus, we don't endorse any particular brands.) As with any pesticide, always make sure you read and follow the product's label instructions to minimize any risk to other plants, the environment, and the applicator themselves.
Miri
