Sycamore 29 August 2020 at 8:06AM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 13 replies 411 views

bouicca21

Sycamore seedlings  abound in my garden. Not usually a problem as they are easy to remove, but I missed one in an area where I was more bothered about the alkanet.  It is now about 18-24 inches tall and bushy, and very close to a yew tree.  I need to decide whether to try and dig it out or resort to chemicals.  Any ideas about how deep the roots are likely to be?  I finally killed the worst of the alkanet with extra strength glyphosphate and the help of the sunny spell, so I am quite prepared to give the sycamore the same treatment if that is easier than digging it out.

Davesnave

I don't have sycamore so I've no direct experience, but self-sown oaks, ash and hazels come out reasonably easily at that size, but I have a mattock if they don't!

Farway

I've loads of seedling sycamore. That size should pull out quite easily, assuming you can get a grip on it

They do succumb to glyphosphate should it be in an awkward spot

twopenny

Dig or pull it out if you can.

I tried to kill a sycamore that grew like a tryffid and used the heaviest duty killer on the market. It too 2 goes before aparantly dying but an immovable trunk.

A couple of years later it started producing new growth from the trunk! I moved house.

Catsacor

Haha, that last bit made me laugh @twopenny 😆

fatbelly

I find a crowbar a useful tool

bouicca21

I fear that I may need to acquire a crow bar - totally failed to get it out so far. Its roots are clearly more tenacious than ash (I get baby ash trees too, and they are easy to pull up).  I’m probably just a weakling but I offer the excuse that it is in an awkward spot.  The weather forecast looks ok so I think a shower of glyphosphate might be in order for tomorrow morning, as long as I can keep the stuff away from the yew tree.

Davesnave

Glyphosate (dunno what this glyphosphate is!)  is cheapest, so just shield plants nearby. A crowbar is handy for fencing, planting and prising, but a mattock is much more versatile for digging, chopping roots, heavy duty weeding etc

bouicca21

Chemistry was never my strong point, but I thought I was good at spelling.  Another illusion shattered.

Farway

bouicca21 said:

Chemistry was never my strong point, but I thought I was good at spelling.  Another illusion shattered.

Welcome to my world

Black_Cat2

twopenny said:

Dig or pull it out if you can.

I tried to kill a sycamore that grew like a tryffid and used the heaviest duty killer on the market. It too 2 goes before aparantly dying but an immovable trunk.

A couple of years later it started producing new growth from the trunk! I moved house.

Lol @ tryffid, must've been a sight! 🐈😂