Last summer, we had to take down a huge honey locust tree after it got split by a lightning storm. They ground the stump down, but now, the extensive root system is causing hundreds of little shoots to pop up all over the yard. I'm mowing them down every few days, but they just keep coming back, and it's driving me crazy! I'm wondering if I should hire someone to handle this professionally. Is there a faster solution? Will mowing them just lead to this problem continuing? The roots spread about 30-40 feet in every direction, and it's ruining my backyard.
3 Answers
Have you thought about keeping one of the shoots as a new tree? It could focus all its energy there, but I totally get not wanting a locust lot in your yard. If you ignore the others, they might turn your yard into a tiny forest!
Repeated mowing can help weaken the roots as long as you keep at it consistently. The stored energy in those roots lasts a bit, but over time, if they can't photosynthesize, they can run out of energy and die off. Just stay vigilant with mowing, and you might see a drop in those annoying sprouts in a year or two!
Yeah, I've been through it too! After a couple of years of effort, I saw no sprouts this season.
It sounds like you've got a classic case of tree regeneration! Since these trees can be pretty stubborn, you might want to consider using something like a buckthorn blaster to apply glyphosate directly on the shoots after cutting them down. It's essential to treat the cut stumps, especially since some trees, like the black locust, can sprout readily. Just make sure to check out the tool online and follow the instructions carefully!
Totally agree! We had a similar issue, and it took a while, but cutting and treating worked wonders in the long run.
I prefer to move on from it since locusts can be a hassle. We're looking for a more suitable tree for our space.