Willow stump growing new shoots, how to stop it?

Welsh_Totster

Had a 25ft willow taken down by an arborist a few months ago, he left the stump about an inch or two above ground level and put some stump killer liquid on it. These past few weeks the bloomin stump has started sprouting new shoots! Help, what can I do to kill it once and for all? Ive got tree and stump killer liquid, it it worth having a go with that or will it be a pointless exercise?

Any help appreciated. (I realise this isnt actually about growing stuff its about killing stuff, but once its killed off I can start to grow stuff around it)

Thanks!

Joly_Roger

I think repeat applications of stump killer is what is required. First dose didn't kill it, but is sure to have weakened it, unless your arborist was the one on Watchdog a few months ago and just used engine oil!

Copper nails hammered into the stump will also help to kill it by accelerating the decomposition process, but it will take a long time for the stump to go. If you're feeling strong you might want to use a mawl (long handled axe) or a mattock to hack it away. I did that recently to remove a stump, also used a wood bomb. Basically, a dimaond shaped piece of metal which will split the wood if malleted in hard enough.

Kay_Peel

Remove all the new shoots and paint the stump with wood preservative, varnish or (if you want something colourful as a feature) any left-over gloss or masonry paint.

I put some left over fence paint on a stump that kept sprouting, drilled a hole in the middle and stuck my whirly clothes line in it. It gave up the fight! :cool:

The idea for painting a stump came from chainsaw carver Tim Burgess who creates sculptures from logs and tree stumps.

:beer:

ds1980

I this is the same geezer that has annihilated some tree stumps down my mum and dads street then i want his number. What a complete waste of time and money. What an eyesore! Fine in your own back garden but don't let everyone see you're mess! Good advic eon the stump though!

Kay_Peel

ds1980 wrote: »

I this is the same geezer that has annihilated some tree stumps down my mum and dads street then i want his number. What a complete waste of time and money. What an eyesore! Fine in your own back garden but don't let everyone see you're mess! Good advic eon the stump though!

There's someone who lives near me who has carved totem poles out of his conifer trunks and varnished them. They scare the beejeepers out of me at night time. :rotfl: In fact, they scare the beejeepers out of me at any time - they are creepy and very alien looking.

I saw the Chainsaw Carver on the local BBC North West News but I've never seen any of his sculptures for myself. He recommends wood preservative to stop stumps sprouting until they can be worked on. I can't comment on the finished product!

Ebe_Scrooge

Dig it out.

A slightly tongue-in-cheek reply this. Removing the stump is the most effective and quickest way to get rid of it, but it is VERY hard work. Basically you need to dig around and under the stump, in doing so you'll expose the roots. You'll need to dig quite a distance out from the trunk, you'll probably end up with a hole 2 or 3 feet in diameter. Then use a small saw to cut through the roots, removing as much of the roots as you can. When you've cut though most of the roots, the stump should, with a lot of wriggling, bashing, coercion from crowbars and lengths of timber, eventually come out.

This method is very effective, and quicker than waiting for it to die off and rot naturally. But allow yourself plenty of time to tackle the job, be prepared for some very hard digging, and have a couple of beers ready and waiting in the fridge for when you've finished :-)

Starrystarrynight

Someone told me once to drill a few holes in the top of the stump, put in some stump killer and secure a plastic bag over it with an elastic band. Haven't got round to trying it yet, though.

Welsh_Totster

Sorry for not replying sooner, thanks for the tips all appreciated! Digging around it and all around isn't really an option as it's in the front garden and it's in a small flower bed surrounded by a concrete path and a wall, so I can't do that. I've chopped off all the sprouts and will give it another dollop of stump killer. The arborist was a proper one and did a good job (no deisel involved!) he deffo used stump killer.

Thanks again everyone

laurel7172

Just stay on top of it-when you walk past it each evening, have a quick look and "rub out" or pick off with your fingers any new shoots. It's having to put all its stored energy into growing the new shoots-losing them before they can sprout leaves will soon wear it out.

amcluesent

Hire a chap with a stump-grinder and be done with it in 30 mins