Invasive tree in yard. Please identify? *Update*

[NetWareHead]

Update 8/7/2011

Update 2:
After rooting the entire front yard:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pJfaoGXR_WNwJUlqil6rgf8z5Towe1YMRBlDBuT06Rs?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OnmHG-3q6Ov8clcLkUeAp_8z5Towe1YMRBlDBuT06Rs?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xu3nZmAVv64EXjRBs2Hmdv8z5Towe1YMRBlDBuT06Rs?feat=directlink

The entire front yard is scarred up and there are root marks everywhere. Enough roots and underground material was dug up to fill up 6 large lawn bags. Unfortunately, the lawn looks like crap now but it will heal in time. We are still plucking up new shoots everyday, on average 10-20 daily. As long as we stay on top of the new shoots, when they are small, they are quite easy to pluck and hopefully this way we can drain the remaining energy out of the remaining roots and the entire system will die. We spend about 30 minutes every 1-2 days to weed this portion of the lawn.

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We have a tree in our yard which we had removed after noticing it was spreading and popping up in other sections of our yard. Even with the tree removal company stump grinding the trunk and roots, it is as if a cancer has spread in the yard out from the original stump. The tree is very tenacious and I've cleared out the yard in sections, not just by pulling the vines and shoots out of the ground but by rooting them out with a shovel. In the sections I've already rooted, the new shoots are easier to pull out.

I'm wondering if anyone knows what kind of tree this is and how long has it taken to clear out completely. I can honestly say that I've been working on this tree since the spring time and at it's height, a good 1/3 to 1/2 an acre was infested. The damn thing is like a cancer and keeps on coming back. It does feel like I'm very slowly winning the war, but the damn thing is very tiring and time consuming to pull out.

Here are some pics for reference.
Yard: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lx4Eeeml48gsAA9wFndddP8z5Towe1YMRBlDBuT06Rs?feat=directlink
Yard 2: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OK5u5J3pZtT8V_12Yqw45_8z5Towe1YMRBlDBuT06Rs?feat=directlink
Closeup of leaves: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HMbL3L2w1KNwo5lX9O5Pqv8z5Towe1YMRBlDBuT06Rs?feat=directlink

 

[Jumpem]

I would think it would die out simply by mowing down the new growths every week.

 

[NetWareHead]

I would think it would die out simply by mowing down the new growths every week.

Mowing doesn't help and still leaves an inch of shoot which will grow back within a day and several inches to a foot tall by the next mowing time. I've turned to digging out the roots with a shovel only with much reluctance.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Damn, that is one hell of a weed tree infection...

 

[spaceman]

is it giant hawwwwwgweed!

 

[vi edit]

What state are you in?

 

[Engineer]

Get a few gallons of Roundup and spray (or brush directly) on the leaves. Also, take a few shallow containers and bend the branches down into it (lay a rock or something on them to hold them down into the Roundup). It will be absorbed and will kill the saplings and the main root trunks. Make sure no rain within 24 hours after starting.

 

[IronWing]

Looks like they are cloning from the roots of the old tree. To really get rid of them you may have to rototill and sieve out the roots. It is probably easier to just keep doing what you are doing.

Edit: or what Engineer wrote.

 

[NetWareHead]

What state are you in?

New Hampshire

 

[IronWing]

New Hampshire

Won't next winter's glaciers kill it?

 

[NetWareHead]

Get a few gallons of Roundup and spray (or brush directly) on the leaves. Also, take a few shallow containers and bend the branches down into it (lay a rock or something on them to hold them down into the Roundup). It will be absorbed and will kill the saplings and the main root trunks. Make sure no rain within 24 hours after starting.

We were thinking about that, but would like to avoid chemicals etc... I mean if push comes to shove and I'm digging that tree out every damn week, I may resort to more drastic methods. By the looks of it, we will need more than a few gallons of roundup, some of the roots we pulled were 3+ inches in diameter...

 

[NetWareHead]

Looks like they are cloning from the roots of the old tree. To really get rid of them you may have to rototill and sieve out the roots. It is probably easier to just keep doing what you are doing.

Edit: or what Engineer wrote.

The original tree was rototilled and the tree removal company used a stump grinder not just on the main trunk, but also on some of the radial shallow roots. The root remnants underground have all emerged as little shoots and saplings. This tree has spread shoots as far as 75 feet from the original trunk and has even been spotted in our neighbor's yard, crossing under a property fence. I'm trying to contain the infection and maintain good neighborly relations at the same time.

 

[NetWareHead]

Won't next winter's glaciers kill it?

Lol no way. Last year it was hit with a stump grinder survived the winter.

 

[vi edit]

Look into this instead of roundup. It's more selective.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclopyr

 

[Engineer]

The extended soaking in Roundup can kill pretty good sized roots. I know this from experience (Bradford Pear tree did the same thing in my yard).

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

One tree/bush that I can think of that would survive is a fuckin Mulberry Tree

 

[vi edit]

Something interesting for the OP:

http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/ipanespecies/ipanespeciesmapper.htm

 

[vi edit]

Looks like Amur Maple

http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=31#images

 

[mizzou]

Probably some type of maple.

This happens in my neighbors yard all the time, except its oak saplings.

What's going on in my neighbors yard is that he takes uber care of it, like bags the clippings and doesn't leave any mulch on the ground, aerates it, fertilizes and mows constantly.

Because every fall those big seeds fall from the tree all over his yard, and because the grass is always short and there is little to no thatch covering the groundsoil, it's real real easy for those saplings to sprout.

Click over to my yard, same big ol oak tree, I never mow short, I always keep it as tall as possible, i ALWAYS mulch, and there is quite a bit of thatch underneath (not awesome but whatever). Anyway, I think during fall, those seeds don't have near as much of an opportunity to flourish because of the low light and covered ground soil, so I only have to pull a few out

 

[Mermaidman]

We had the same problem, except it was with a Japanese Mimosa tree. The shoots kept popping up from the original tree's roots for 2 years. We mowed the shoots down and used a weedkiller (but not Roundup--Roundup kills your grass too.)

The problem occurs because there's no way to remove all the roots when you cut down the tree--You'd have to tear up the whole yard!
I think the proper way to remove these trees is to first kill the tree (and the roots die), and then remove it.

Damned invasive species.

 

[Engineer]

We had the same problem, except it was with a Japanese Mimosa tree. The shoots kept popping up from the original tree's roots for 2 years. We mowed the shoots down and used a weedkiller (but not Roundup--Roundup kills your grass too.)

The problem occurs because there's no way to remove all the roots when you cut down the tree--You'd have to tear up the whole yard!
I think the proper way to remove these trees is to first kill the tree (and the roots die), and then remove it.

Damned invasive species.

That's why you bend them down into a shallow pan of roundup and let it be localized (or brush / wipe it on the leaves to keep it off the grass). It will not harm the grass if it doesn't touch the grass leaves. It's soaked through the leaves and then kills the plants from the roots up.

 

[ElFenix]

eventually with constant mowing there won't be enough in the roots to keep making shoots

 

[alkemyst]

Definitely not Ents.

 

[Mermaidman]

That's why you bend them down into a shallow pan of roundup and let it be localized (or brush / wipe it on the leaves to keep it off the grass). It will not harm the grass if it doesn't touch the grass leaves. It's soaked through the leaves and then kills the plants from the roots up.

I was thinking of different ways to get Roundup on the shoots only and not the grass. Using a brush, or sponge, but never thought of the pan method you mentioned! But when there are so many shoots, it becomes a daunting task.

 

[BoomerD]

IF you use Roundup, be sure to add some liquid dish soap to the mix. It makes it stick better and makes it work better.
When I mix it up, (I buy the "super concentrated stuff at Costco) I mix it a bit stronger than the directions, and for a gallon, I add about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of liquid dish washing soap.

I get the best results with Roundup ever.
(came from a college instructor who is a farmer)

Edit...there are also "Brush Killer" concoctions available that work very well...and may not kill the grass.