Elder Tree Roots

muskoka

Have some elder trees in my garden - been advised to get them removed (I think suffocating other shrubs nearby). However, will cut them down but not sure whether to use creosote to kill roots or Roundup? Cant completely remove elder roots - too big, so want to kill roots but ALSO want to be able to plant new smaller shrubs in same place if possible as soon as possible. Can anyone advise best product to use ideally to kill elder roots, and how soon can I plant something else in same place please? Thanks

bromsgrovebarry

I use neat roundup (360g/l) and paint it onto a freshly cut stump. You may wish to 'frill' the stump with an axe to increase absorbtion. Cover the stump with a polythene bag to prevent animals from coming in contacyt with the glyphosate.

muskoka

thanks very much for that. But if I use roundup how soon can I plant something else in its place please? Can I get something in this year to grow next year?? or have I got to wait months?

gardenroute

Elder roots can be difficult to kill. As bgb says hit it with an axe to and try to expose as much of the wood under the bark as possible; then paint on some glyphosate.
Glyphosate won't last in the soil so you can plant as soon as the elder are dead. Creosote will last longer in the soil and won't kill the roots properly.

amcluesent

Get you get the stumps ground out? Then you can replant at once with no aggro.

NB You can't buy proper creosote any more.

muskoka

Cant get roots out - have axed them off as best we can. Want to re-plant asap, but how will we know when roots are dead, so we can replant?? i.e. if we try the glyphosate please & thanks