Removed crepe myrtles...but tons of saplings pop up every week! What can I do?

cbwardrop · Jun 14, 2009

Hired a guy to remove 3 mature crepe myrtles about 2 months ago. I filled the large holes with dirt and planted new St. Augustine grass to fill the holes.

To my surprise, about 3 weeks ago, I found huge saplings developing on the outer edges of the empty spaces. Basically they're growing in a circle around where the trees used to be.

Called the guy, who didn't come look at it for 3 weeks, and he then calls me and says "I pulled the saplings, but you have to mow every week or they'll keep growing back."

After searching the Internet, it appears no amount of mowing does the trick. These things can keep growing and growing and growing for years if the roots aren't removed.

Clearly, my guy did not remove the roots. Now I have brand new grass that has already taken hold.

Any suggestions? Round up? Ortho? Will those kill all sorts of grass, and not just the grass it contacts?

How should I handle my contact? Should it be his responsibility to come do it, do it right, then re-plant grass?

Newt* · Jun 16, 2009

It sounds to me that either the stumps were dug out but roots remain or there are still stumps that were ground down so they are now below the soil level.

There are a couple of ways to approach this that I see.

Method 1.

Locate the stumps that are under soil level or can dig down where there are sprouts and locate the roots that remain. Then use this method to help the remaining roots decompose.
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=50

Method 2.

Where there are sprouts, try and let them grow tall enough so you can bend them over without breaking them so the top tips touch the ground. Put about an inch of Round Up Weed and Grass Killer Super Concentrate (you could also use Brush B Gone) in a clear plastic container with a tight fitting lid like you might get at the deli with potato salad. Cut a slit in the lid and insert the tips of the sprouts in the solution when in active growth (has leaves on it and the leaves need to be in the solution). Leave the sprouts in the solution for 48 hours and then cut the sprouts near the lid. To remove the sprouts from the lid, be sure and take the container to a safe place so that no solution splashes on anything precious. You can reuse the solution until it is all absorbed. Everytime you find a new sprout you can do this same procedure.

Newt

DiyDave · Jun 16, 2009

Newt* said:
It sounds to me that either the stumps were dug out but roots remain or there are still stumps that were ground down so they are now below the soil level.

There are a couple of ways to approach this that I see.

Method 1.

Locate the stumps that are under soil level or can dig down where there are sprouts and locate the roots that remain. Then use this method to help the remaining roots decompose.
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=50

Method 2.

Where there are sprouts, try and let them grow tall enough so you can bend them over without breaking them so the top tips touch the ground. Put about an inch of Round Up Weed and Grass Killer Super Concentrate (you could also use Brush B Gone) in a clear plastic container with a tight fitting lid like you might get at the deli with potato salad. Cut a slit in the lid and insert the tips of the sprouts in the solution when in active growth (has leaves on it and the leaves need to be in the solution). Leave the sprouts in the solution for 48 hours and then cut the sprouts near the lid. To remove the sprouts from the lid, be sure and take the container to a safe place so that no solution splashes on anything precious. You can reuse the solution until it is all absorbed. Everytime you find a new sprout you can do this same procedure.

Newt

Don't need all that rigmarole in # 2, just thin 41 % roundup by half, cut the stems, apply the thinned roundup to the cut stem via a paintbrush or small sponge. Wear rubber gloves to be safe, but Roundup is pretty human safe. Or, just keep mowing your lawn regularly, and maybe hit with broadleaf chemicals as needed. You might want to check the labels on the broadleaf chemicals, they can discolor or harm warm season grasses like St Augustine. Your tree guy did nothing wrong, don't lay the growth habit of the plant on him.

Newt* · Jun 17, 2009

DiyDave said:
Don't need all that rigmarole in # 2, just thin 41 % roundup by half, cut the stems, apply the thinned roundup to the cut stem via a paintbrush or small sponge. Wear rubber gloves to be safe...

You may find that "rigmarole" actually works better as RoundUp is absorbed by the leaves and transported to the roots. With woody plants it can take longer to do permanent damage to the root system. Consider trying both methods and let us know how it goes.

Newt

cbwardrop · Sep 20, 2009

Well I tried what I thought was a quick and easy fix -- sprayed some roundup on the saplings.

Didn't work, of course.

I think curing the problem is beyond me. What type of professional would I call to deal with this for me?

The landscaper who removed them (and, contrary to what you say above, I DO blame him. He shouldn't have removed them, and accepted my money, if he knew this would happen. It's ridiculous) has totally gone incommunicado. In our last talk, however, he said something like: "Oh jeez, I'm not sure what's going on. I'll have to find out."

I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

RAlmaroad · Sep 20, 2009

Try this if you dare: Dig down and find some big roots if you find them drill 1/4" hole in the root as far as the drill bit will go. Fill the hole with "Crossbow"; keeping it away from the soil or running off the edges as it will spread in the soil; cover with plastic and wait for a couple of weeks. Refill the hole with good soil and resod. Crossbow is not too expensive and may be available in a quart from you local feed store. I've done this on large cherry trees (18" diameter) that the stump removers left below ground. If the roots are small, don't use this; paint the follage with the "Crossbow".

cbwardrop · Sep 20, 2009

I think even that is beyond me. I have 3, and roots are everywhere. I wouldn't know where to start. I appreciate the suggestion, though.

What type of professional could I call?

TruGreen?

Another landscaper who can actually do the job he's paid for?

RAlmaroad · Sep 20, 2009

Roundup is worthless on woody plants. Glyphosate is great for grass, weeds, etc. You could cover the ground around those saplings with plastic out about 4' and in as tight as you can around the base and spray the woody offshoots with "Crossbow" or other brush killers with Triclopyr and a little diesel fuel acting as a surfactant. The whole aim is to translocate the AI to the root system. Be Careful around the St. Augustine. Almost anything will kill it that comes in contact with the surface. Spray very early on a dead calm day preferably overcast as not to dry out the Triclopyr and 2-4D.

MarkintheGarden · Oct 8, 2009

cbwardrop said:
I think even that is beyond me. I have 3, and roots are everywhere. I wouldn't know where to start. I appreciate the suggestion, though.

What type of professional could I call?

TruGreen?

Another landscaper who can actually do the job he's paid for?

Your landscaper did do the job he was paid for.
Horticulture is a science, mother nature is a tricky master and no scientist can always predict all outcomes.
Landscapers are not scientists unless they are also horticulturists.

You want to blame a contractor for doing the job he was paid for?

Mother nature is responsible for the situation that you describe and a good horticulturist can visit the site and give you suggestions for dealing with the situation and the possible outcomes of the various methods.

If you want to keep trying to get free horticultural advice, you might at least post a photo or put in a call to a local gardening radio show. You might also stop wasting the time it takes for everyone you talk to to have to tell you it is not the landscapers fault that some plants are determined to live even under the drastic condition of people trying to kill them.

Too bad mother nature provides her services for free or else you could deduct your losses from her fee.

ron mexico75 · Oct 8, 2009

MarkintheGarden said:
Your landscaper did do the job he was paid for.
Horticulture is a science, mother nature is a tricky master and no scientist can always predict all outcomes.
Landscapers are not scientists unless they are also horticulturists.

You want to blame a contractor for doing the job he was paid for?

Mother nature is responsible for the situation that you describe and a good horticulturist can visit the site and give you suggestions for dealing with the situation and the possible outcomes of the various methods.

If you want to keep trying to get free horticultural advice, you might at least post a photo or put in a call to a local gardening radio show. You might also stop wasting the time it takes for everyone you talk to to have to tell you it is not the landscapers fault that some plants are determined to live even under the drastic condition of people trying to kill them.

Too bad mother nature provides her services for free or else you could deduct your losses from her fee.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Removed crepe myrtles...but tons of saplings pop up every week! What can I do?

cbwardrop

Newt*

DiyDave

Newt*

cbwardrop

RAlmaroad

cbwardrop

RAlmaroad

MarkintheGarden

ron mexico75

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