[SusieB]

I cut down three enormous laurels (20+ft) a couple of years ago.  One died, the others are growing back.  I cut them down, in the hope that eventually they will die(!).

I have been advised that laurels rob the soil of nutrients and new plants will struggle to grow.  Does anybody know the best way to rectify this?  And do I need to kill off the re-sprouting plants?

It is a large north facing slope that I would really like to plant up this year.  Any help and advice, greatfully received.

[New shoot]

Laurel will grow back from a stump Susie so you will either have to buy a strong tree stump weed killer or get a tree surgeon in to stump grind the roots.  Most of the tree stump weedkillers leave residual chemical in the soil so you will need to move any plants you want to save for a few months.

Any big shrub/tree like you had will deplete the soil, so dig in loads of farmyard manure or garden compost to get new plants going.

Smaller hardy shrubs that will tolerate a shady north facing position are Aucuba (Spotted Laurel), Viburnum tinus, Mahonia & Euonymus.  These are all evergreen and easy to grow. Smaller flowering perennials like Hellebores, Begenia, Foxgloves and hardy Geraniums are good tough plants as well.  Quite a few bulbs are also worth a go - Snowdrops, Bluebells and Cyclamen should be fine 

[SusieB]

Thanks for advice.  Can't get anyone to grind stumps due to slope, besides it is shooting up all over the place, so will get stump killer on to it, then start replensihing soil.  Thanks for planting tips too.

[kenny199]

I would suggest painting on neat concentrated Roundup /Tumbleweed and covering it with plastic to make sure it is not washed away

[New shoot]

Not sure that would work Kenny.  The active ingredient of both is glyphosate which needs to be applied to green growth. 

You also have to be careful about using weedkillers any other way that as is recommended on the packet.  I know you're talking about using stuff in your own garden, but I work in a garden centre and we get it drilled into us that we can't recommend any product for any non-listed use.  In theory you can get into trouble for this at home as well if someone reported you or if you managed to contaminate ground water 

[kenny199]

Not sure that would work Kenny.  The active ingredient of both is glyphosate which needs to be applied to green growth. 

You also have to be careful about using weedkillers any other way that as is recommended on the packet.  I know you're talking about using stuff in your own garden, but I work in a garden centre and we get it drilled into us that we can't recommend any product for any non-listed use.  In theory you can get into trouble for this at home as well if someone reported you or if you managed to contaminate ground water 

New shoot ,I have done it And it works . I have used it on small oaks ,ash ,holly and ivy.
You paint it on the fresh cut and then cover it with plastic

[New shoot]

I'm sure it does but using pesticides for off label uses and in higher concentrations than specified or encouraging other to do so is not a great idea. See John's wise words on the subject http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=65430.0

Roundup do a specific product for tree stump killing and the label explains how to use it - please stick to this Susie 

[kenny199]

You just cant help some people

[joyfull]

Kenny, please don't be like that, because New Shoot is just pointing out the laws - the environment agency take a very dim view of people misusing chemicals and contaminating the water table. There are things specifically manufactured for the purpose of treating tree stumps and we would always advocate the use of these.

[kenny199]

Just been on the Roundup web site and their stump and root killer is brushed on.I will say no more on the subject.

[Yorkie]

Just been on the Roundup web site and their stump and root killer is brushed on.I will say no more on the subject.

It is not brushed on neat, which is what you were advocating in contravention of its licence and also, as you have now had pointed out to you, the request of the site owner here not to endorse such use on the forum.

[joyfull]

here are the dilution rates SusieB - a little goes a long way 

http://www.roundup-garden.com/pdf/TSKMixingRates.pdf

[SusieB]

Thanks.  The laurels were cut down over 2 years ago, so these stumps are presumably dead.  I'll cut down all the new shoots and paint it on them.  Hopefully it will work it's way through all the live growth.

[New shoot]

It will work its way through but you may get an odd shoot coming through for a while.  Its the side roots trying to regenerate but you'll kill them all if you keep at it