Killing a tree

Auntie Shibby

I have a peach tree in my backyard that I've cut down to a stump. It keeps growing branches and leaves as it would have if it still had a full trunk. Pretty much, it looks like a giant brush that grows peaches. Is there anyway to completely take care of it besides poisoning it, or up rooting it? I've talked to a couple friends of mine and I suggested that I split the stump to kill it, neither one of them had a good answer if this was a good idea or if it would just grow back. They kept suggesting that I poison it.

Would splitting the stump with an ax keep the tree from growing back in anyway shape or form?

Turret

We killed our weeping willow by drilling large, deep holes down into the trunk, allowing insects and fungi easy access.

Basar

1. Why do you want to? Trees are good man.
2. Splitting it with an ax won't work.
3. You need to poison it. You can get the specific stuff to do it at a hardware or garden store.

Gafoto

You can split the stump up to allow it to rot faster or you can paint on brush killer. Brush killer is essentially concentrated round-up that you paint on the stump and should help kill off the plant faster.

TexiKen

You could get a tree trimmer to come out and use a grinder on the stump. But from what you described it sounds like the "stump" is 2-3 ft. You need to cut another foot or two off to make it acceptable to grind.

The only other thing to do is to cut the roots that are above ground and hack at the stump then douse it with brush killer. Maybe then it will get the message.

CooterTKE

put a copper spike into the stump it will kill it completely.

NakedZergling

Get a portable dvd player and rest it on the stump. Play the movie "The Tuxedo" on a loop. The stump will kill itself.

Limp moose

Kill it with Fire

FishMist

You could try using an axe to chop the stump up so there is nothing about ground level and then burying the remains. I did this for tree in my yard a few months back and I've seen no sign of regrowth. It was a smallish tree though, 15-20 cm in diameter. Probably not a practical method if your peah tree (stump) is big.

supertall

How big is the stump? You could take a strip of bark off around the circumference.

Rainbulimic

I've always thought drilling holes into a stump is enough to kill it.

stigweard

CooterTKE wrote: »

put a copper spike into the stump it will kill it completely.

This works. Hammer it in as deep as you can get it in the trunk just below the surface of the ground. If it is a really large trunk in diameter, drive it through the heart from the top.

acidlacedpenguin

keep tree, enjoy peaches?

or you could do the honorable thing. . . 20 foot chain + half ton truck + 3500 rpm

stigweard

That method generally tears the crap out of the yard and leaves a giant hole to clean up. Copper takes a couple of months, but it will normally rot the wood to the point where you can dig it up easily with a spade.

Sakebomb

Hire me as your gardener.

I love peaches. Wish I had an immortal peach tree.

a penguin

remember that stumps = potential termite mounds, so be sure do to something about it.

A friend just drilled holes in them and poured kerosene in. I apparently know alot of people with an affinity for kerosene.

If it were me, I'd just get it ground out.

mts

you can dig up around the root system and pour in bleach.

Djeet

I'd probably rent a sawzall and buy a blade or two and have at it. It'd be fun, though a bit dangerous if you aren't careful. Watch out for that round-up stuff; you might end up with a persistent dead zone around the trunk if you overdo it.

Gafoto

Djeet wrote: »

I'd probably rent a sawzall and buy a blade or two and have at it. It'd be fun, though a bit dangerous if you aren't careful. Watch out for that round-up stuff; you might end up with a persistent dead zone around the trunk if you overdo it.

If you're using a glyphosate product that's not likely to happen. It will most likely bind to the soil and become deactivated after a short time. After the first rain it should be all gone (this is why applicators don't apply just before a rainstorm usually).

Mega Playboy

I got to go with CooterTKE on this. That how I kill my bush/tree thing in my yard.

Hexmage-PA

Keep your bitchin' peach bush.

MegaMan001

This is ridiculous, why not just keep the bush and enjoy fresh peaches?