[wayne170534]

hi all,
in my lottie i have a willow tree growing, i know we are all about growing things but does anyone know a way of killing willow trees as this one keeps growing back and overshadowing the plot, cant fell it as it will fall on all the plots(should of thought of that first duh!!).
if anyone has any ideas

wayne

[tedsdad]

I'm a bit confused.If it keeps growing back then you must have cut it down,so why cant you do it again and then treat the stump?

[RichardA]

I have removed two large poplars and they grow again from the stump. I cut it all back and then put plastic bags over the stumps reducing the regrowth. It seems to be giving up the ghost now. I have done same on elder stumps where i can't dig them out. Might work for willow.
R

[ex-cavator]

Willows don't work like that - a tree will regrow from a live stump or even from a twig stuck in the ground - you've no option but to either remove the stump completely, or kill it. You can buy stump killer usually in crystal form, depending on the size of the stump, it might be best to drill some large holes down into it from the top and fill them with crystals, then seal it over with polythene until the job is done 

[tedsdad]

Are these crystals anything more than the sodium chlorate we've always used?

[ex-cavator]

Are these crystals anything more than the sodium chlorate we've always used?

It's usually Glyphosate, though there may be others.

Incidentally, I've just noted from Wikipedia that "As of September 2009, wholesale of sodium chlorate weedkiller was banned in all EU countries, but consumers were allowed to use and store the product until 10 May 2010". So, I guess f you're still using it - don't 

[tedsdad]

Got loads of the stuff'I think the ban might be as much about it's incendiary capability as anything else.  Interestingly, I'm pretty sure that a couple of states in the U.S. ban the use of Glyphosate,though without it we'd be overun by Jap knotweed.

[ex-cavator]

Got loads of the stuff'I think the ban might be as much about it's incendiary capability as anything else.  Interestingly, I'm pretty sure that a couple of states in the U.S. ban the use of Glyphosate,though without it we'd be overun by Jap knotweed.

Attended a demo on weed control at work a couple of years ago, some Australian or Kiwi firm that uses a piece of kit to generate boiling hot sugar solution foam that is spread onto the growth from a long handled applicator - the intense heat in the foam destroys the cell structure of the plant & it's as good as dead already. Can't recall the name but they said it could even kill Japanese Knotweed. Can't vouch for that but certainly worked on our weeds 

[tedsdad]

Bloke I've been ferreting with makes his living travelling the country dealing with Knotweed and cuts them down then pours glyphosate down the stem holes.The toxic sugar concoction sounds like what the missus serves up as tea.

[ex-cavator]

Bloke I've been ferreting with makes his living travelling the country dealing with Knotweed and cuts them down then pours glyphosate down the stem holes.The toxic sugar concoction sounds like what the missus serves up as tea.

That's the point - being sugar it's non-toxic and completely biodegradable, and so has no harmful effect on the environment at all - apart from the plants you put it on