Asked on Jun 30, 2016
How can I get rid of saplings in my flower bed?
by
Vicki
+9
I moved into a house where the yard has not been taken care of. There are 2 small trees that are growing in a flowerbed that I want gone. They are too big for me to pull out and I've cut them down but they just grow back. I don't want to kill everything else in the bed so I'm afraid to use a poison. What else can i do to kill them without hurting the other plants?
12 answers
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Unfortunately, if you don't get the root, they most likely will grow back. I did eradicate some wild rose bushes by continually cutting them down. After a while they lost the energy to keep emerging and the lawn took over.
Deh7220306
on Jul 01, 2016
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What sort of tree is it? I had the same issue with maples and I actually let a few grow several feet and dug them out to relocate them elsewhere on my property. They are not hard to deal with until they become very large.
Deh7220306
on Jul 01, 2016
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The only way to get rid of them is to dig them out.
Janet Pizaro
on Jul 01, 2016
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Keep cutting them off at ground level. If they're not allowed to grow leaves, the roots will die off for lack of nourishment.
Mar7927254
on Jul 01, 2016
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You can dig them up and if they are a tree some one might like offer them to your friends ,neighbours or for free on Freecell or Craig's list instead of killing them off.
Jean Myles
on Jul 01, 2016
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It depends on what you mean by saplings. If they are springing up from seeds, like acorns or some berries, you can remove them pretty easily with a grubbing hoe or an axe if they are large. If they are suckers (shoots springing from surface roots), often cutting them only makes matters worse. Cherry laurels are notorious for sending out suckers, and the more the roots are damaged, the more suckers will appear. Some trees start sending out suckers if they have begun to decline or as they near the end of their natural life, and if it's a constant problem, you might think about replacing the tree. Some trees are notorious for sending out suckers, various plum trees, mulberry trees and cherry laurels come to mind, and if you wish to keep these trees, be aware that they will require constant sucker control. If you can mow the suckers, great, but they will start coming up in flower beds and other areas quite far from the base of the tree, and will need to be promptly removed. If they are suckers, it's true you can grow new stock from the suckers, but be cautious about giving these away, often they become serious pest plants, and the recipient will not thank you in the end.
GoddessOdd
on Jul 01, 2016
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I dug mine out roots and all than transplanted them elsewhere in our yard! It's been a few years and they've grown up amazingly well!
April
on Jul 02, 2016
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Without destroying your beautiful flower bed and assuming these are full grown tress already, here's what you can do: a) About one foot from the ground makes a circular girdle around the stem using a sharp knife or pruning knife, b)Remove the bark clean from the woody stem c) scrape remaining tissue from the girdled area using the same, and d) the upper and lower edge of the girdle is about 4 inches long. By removing the bark you cut off the flow of water from the ground to the canopy and food from the leaves (as results of photosynthesis) to the roots. In this way, the roots and the leaves are deprived of both important elements for growth and development. After a week you can see the results without having to dig these trees. Hope this help,
Rodrigo Sebidos
on Jul 02, 2016
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If they are coming up from the roots of a tree that has been cut down the only way is to carefully spray roundup on the leaves. You may have to do this for several years as the suckers continue to sprout. ots of
Audrey Camp Willson
on Jul 02, 2016
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You will have to be more clear on the saplings!Do they grow from an existing tree,or are they seeds in your beds.If they are seeds just pull them out gently.If they are from an existing tree,you will have to cut them at the tree and cover with a wax.That will stop any grow back!
Sophia,M.,McConnery
on Jul 02, 2016
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Do not use roundup; my neighbor used round up on his trees and it killed two of my jostaberry bushes. Either some spray drift or it got on some roots that emerged on neighbors side. Roundup should be banned.
Deh7220306
on Jul 03, 2016
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I agree, NO Roundup. If they are suckers, the Round up will eventually kill the host tree, or at least hasten it's decline. If they are suckers, the more you nick the root system, the more suckers you will get.
GoddessOdd
on Jul 03, 2016
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