North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

In a local park naturalization project, we have had some success with 
cutting Manitoba Maple (box elder) and preventing regrowth, by applying 
full strength Roundup to the cut stumps within two minutes.

It has been recommended to me to carry out this procedure only when the 
temperature is 24 degrees C. or above, and we have tried to comply.

The same procedure has not succeeded when applied to numerous sprouts 
from the root system of a poplar which was cut down a few years ago, 
probably because not all the sprouts were cut and treated.

An internet acquaintance in Ireland has told me that he has had success 
with petroleum jelly mixed with 10% diesel fuel. I have not tried this yet.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada



Steve wrote:
> Jim Fruth wrote:
> >     Poplar and Box Elder tree roots criss-cross three of my berry patches. 
> > If I pull them up, I only get what doesn't break off and I damage berry 
> > plants in the process.  If I rub the root shoots (small trees) with Round 
> > Up, the shoot (sometimes) dies but the Round Up doesn't seem to damage the 
> > root.  I don't care if the trees, are damaged in the effort.  Cutting the 
> > trees isn't an option because when Poplar and Box Elder are cut, they 
> > produce copious amounts of root shoots.
> >     What would you do to eradicate roots in your berry patch?
> >   
>
> I've been reading the replies, and it seems you have no good solution 
> unless you are willing to take the risk of being accused of killing 
> trees on the public land next door. I bet you could control the sprouts 
> by digging a narrow trench right down the property line to sever the 
> roots that cross onto your property. (You could immediately fill it back 
> in but plan on repeating the process some years from now.)  Do you have 
> access to a small back hoe or trench digger?
> Once severed from the parent trees, I bet the round up would kill the 
> sprouts completely.
> By the way, I killed a rapidly growing, silver maple that was reaching 
> about 50 feet tall. Last summer, I did the trick of drilling holes in 
> the root flares at the bottom of the trunk and filling them with roundup 
> concentrate. The tree is quite dead this year. This tree (with some good 
> sized sprouts) was getting tall and shading my garden. It was on the 
> property line but clearly on my side of the line by a few inches. I was 
> afraid the neighbors might complain if I just cut it down. If cut down, 
> the tree will have to fall their way because I have smaller trees on my 
> side. This method saved the risk of that argument.
> They also have a whole clump of silver maples about 15 feet farther over 
> on their property. They are shading my garden more each year. I wish 
> they were gone too but I'll leave them alone, I promise.
>
> Steve