killing an old tree root

[darth vader]

I have whats left of a tree stump sticking out in the garden and want to do something about it. It keeps growing shoots through so is still 'living'. The tree is too big to dig up so was planning to dig down below the surface, kill off the tree then fill with soil to make a rockery. I have noticed others use a drill to bore holes into the trunk, and fill with fluid - what is this fluid/poison please? also, if i use the 'poison' to kill the tree, will it affect any plants i grow later in the rockery over it?

[Jenny Tools]

SBK brushwood killer

[darth vader]

cheers. I suppose the garden centre has gallons of it? how will it affect plants growing in that area/over the top in a wockewy?

[Jenny Tools]

No idea, never used it, "HA", asked a friend who was a forester and he said drill holes in stump as deep as poss, fill with SBK undiluted and let it sink in. You could always read the instructions on the tin I guess. ;-')

[Jenny Tools]

What type of tree was it before it become a stumpy.

[Cetti]

Be a bit careful with the Brushwood killer Darth. It's brilliant (always mentioned on gardening progs) but also lethal to surrounding plants which will need to be protected with polythene sheeting if you use this method. Try this site for more help :

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/gt/stump/stump.htm

[woofgang]

I had the same problem so got a man with a stump grinder to come and grind the stump out. It wasn't cheap, but was instant (took a couple of hours) and no poisons used, plus you get the grindings which are great mulch Try yellow pages under tree work or tree surgery

[paulz]

I second woofgang's advice. Having had it done by a pro, I noticed they rent the machine in Hire shops - like HSS etc catalogue. Disaster, nowhere near as effective as getting a pro in.

[sft42]

Surely you can just blatter it one with your light saber?

[darth vader]

thanks for your advice folks i am going with the natural non-poisoning method as i will be growing plants in it's place - either i dig the bu:gger out or chop it below the surface, fill in and hope it dies instead of growing :-) sft the batteries have worn out. 3 stars and the weekend off to everyone

[Dave Potts]

A chemical-free suggestion from my builder: buy some copper pipe and nail it into the stump. Over time the stump will die and rot and then you can spend a sweaty afternoon ripping it to bits. Apparently this works a treat!

[paulz]

One minor snag with leaving stumps to rot is that it can encourage honey fungus, which can spread to other healthy trees see for info: http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/dc19.htm