tree stump

[Jude]

Not really a kitchen garden question, I know, but can anyone tell me how to kill a tree stump short of actually digging it up? The tree in question is a weeping birch,about 12 ft. tall. It's in the front garden and there are signs that the roots are starting to cause damage to the pavement beyond.

[Mike Vogel]

What's its diameter, Jude? Irrespective of that, you might try finding the offending roots and cutting through them somehow, sort of root-pruning at the wrong end of the root. Another possibility is chopping down vertically through the stump, a bit like slicing a cake, and gradually working your way down to ground level.

All this on the assumption that you don't want to use a poison.

[Jude]

Thanks, Mike. The diameter is about 8-10 inches I guess. I'm not necessarily averse to using poison, but is there one that you can actually get hold of these days?

[Beryl]

There used to be a product called Root Out which is very effective in killing root stumps. I used it on an old apple tree and didn't have any regrowth, it also killed A very rampant Golden Ivy.
I know its off the market now but I am sure when I was in our local Range Store before Christmas they had a similar product on their shelf. Might be worth looking for.

Beryl.

[Geoff]

http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden-diar ... er-banned/

http://www.garden-products.info/rootout.htm

Looks like the specific use is banned but not the product so you should be able to buy it. As Beryl says, it works but don't tell anyone.

[Beryl]

Thats useful to know Geoff thanks.

Beryl.