Stubborn Sumac Trees
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Stubborn Sumac Trees
I live in western PA. The power company recently cut down several large sumac trees that were getting into the power lines in my front yard. I now have seedling trees popping up everywhere, in my yard, in the mulch, up through the rhododendron, etc. If I pull them out and don't get the entire root, they just come back stronger. Is there any way to kill sumac without affecting the lawn and other plants? Thanks!
#2
Group Moderator
When a live tree is cut down the tree knows it's a goner so the roots send up shoots to form new trees as a method of survival. Initially the best thing to do is immediately after cutting down the tree is to paint the root with a herbicide concentrate like glyphosate (Roundup, Honcho, Glyfos...). The still living stump draws the herbicide in and kills the roots. Since your tree is already down it's too late to paint the original stump. You can paint the baby stumps/shoots as you cut them but you will have to stay at it. There is a huge mass of roots underground and the tiny bit of herbicide that can be taken in through the shoots won't kill it without repeated and persistent pressure. Eventually the root mass will run out of energy and die.