How to kill self-seeded ash tree?

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Should I cut it to the ground, then use Glyphosate/Roundup on the "stump", or is the Poundland jobbie OK for this?

(the tree is slap bang beside the house and I want to zap it before the roots affect the foundations)

Thanks all

Sally_A

How big is it? We often get these self seeding, and normally spot them and pull them out when they are about 8 - 10 inches tall. The bark has a habit of slipping of the main stem when you pull.

The tap root at the size mentioned above goes down quite a bit (6 inches-ish), so still possible to dig out with a trowel at that size.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Sally_A wrote: »

How big is it? We often get these self seeding, and normally spot them and pull them out when they are about 8 - 10 inches tall. The bark has a habit of slipping of the main stem when you pull.

The tap root at the size mentioned above goes down quite a bit (6 inches-ish), so still possible to dig out with a trowel at that size.

It's about 7 foot tall :eek: The owner of the house is partially sighted, and I've only just become her "garden partner", hence why it wasn't spotted sooner.

Sally_A

Flip!, that is big.

Truthfully I don't know what the root spread/depth would be on an ash that size, there are several varieties. Sometimes killing big mature trees off can cause more damage re subsidence as the dying shrivelling roots leave unstable air pockets.

If you neighbour is partially sighted, is there a chance the local council could send a tree person along from the Parks Dept to give an opinion?

amcluesent

TBH, at 7 foot I'd say you could dig out the roots OK.

gardenroute

Two options:
1. Dig around the roots chopping any roots growing outwards with a spade and use the trunk as a lever to lift the roots out, chopping any more roots you see.
2. Cut the tree down as low to the ground as possible, ideally slightly below soil level. Hit it with an axe, mattock, pick-axe, etc to split the root up. A few deep splits in the roots will fill with water and soil and rot the root trunk over the winter.

Shouldn't take more than 10 mins. Glyphosate only works when the plant is growing, there's no point using it this time of year.
A 7 foot ash tree will not affect the foundations of a house.