Black Locust Root Sprouts

westbrook

I had 2 very tall black locust trees cut down 1 year ago and their stumps grinded the same day. Prior to the chopping I saw sprouts, after chopping and the following spring (cut was done mid summer) in Northeastern US is when the roots started sprouting these little trees.

The little trees grew rapidly. As you can see in the picture, they cover the entire rear yard. I am trying to find the most reasonable solution to stopping this growth.

So far, I have removed some of the roots and in the same area other sprouts still continued so I gave up that back breaking solution.

Next, I sampled a few sprouts by spraying with a weed killer. I allowed the sprouts/little trees to soak in the spray for 1 week. They wilted then i mowed them down. Killed some grass around the sprout so that solution is not acceptable.

Have any ideas how to control the growth? The stumps are gone but the roots remain and I'm guessing they are trying to survive?

How long does it take before the sprouts stop? Can I drill a hole in the bigger roots where the stump once was and fill with concentrate weed killer - read that somewhere.

Thanks

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Jamie Myers

You ll have to poison each of the suckers. Once the sprout opens a pair of leaves it will start to produce an independent root system

westbrook

the sprout comes from an existing root then creates its own root system?

also, once i poison one sprout and it wilts and dies, will it return next season?

Jamie Myers

Exactly they will become independent albeit with a graft to the parent stock, poisoning the plant should kill it and in some small way weaken the parent stock. you will need to poison all of the suckers and any subsequent ones to have any chance of killing the main root. For future reference fell poison wait a year and then grind. The same goes for Prunus too

Brent Ferris

You could also dig up and remove the sprouts and the main roots -- onerous job, but will end the problem, and less impact on the environment.

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Eden Keeper

A little more vigilance will be required, but it is somewhat easier to keep the suckers cut while the stems are still succulent rather than waiting until they become woody. Eventually (years in some cases) the energy stores in the remaining roots will be exhausted and they will die trying to keep putting up suckers, but letting the suckers have leaves allows those energy reserves to be replenished. Locust is fairly rot resistant so anything left will be there for a long time thus the suckers should be cut below grade (using an ax/cutter mattock) so the stubs are not hazards.