On 18/08/2010 15:53, ellison wrote:
My partner and I have recently purchased and moved into a house which
three Poplar large trees at the bottom of the garden just inside the
boundry fence, which backs onto a neighbours garden.

After discussion with neighbours the trees were chopped down to stump
level to stop them creating shade in our, and everyone elses, gardens.
After a couple of weeks shoots sprouted all over our lawn (like a foot
high forest in our garden). Neighbours on both sides, and at the back,
(and apparently even further afield) also have these shoots all over
their lawns, and also roots are disturbing patios and shed bases!

As a young couple in our first house we have a massive list of jobs on
our list that cost money which we are short of - we are happy to mow our
shoots over.

If they are in the lawn then applying a broadleaf specific weedkiller a
few days before each grass cut will hasten the tree roots demise. I
wouldn't use glyphosate over a lawn - grass is exquisitely sensitive to
the stuff and you will end up with many unwanted brown patches.

We have drilled holes in the stumps and poured diesel in and are waiting
for effect...apart from this I think our options with regard to getting
rid of the roots are going to cost us according to a quote from a tree
surgeon!!

Deisel won't do much good. You want a good hefty dose of glyphosate
and/or ammonium sulphamate previously sold as RootOut but now only
available as "compost accelerator" thanks to EU meddling. They will need
to go into fairly deep drilled holes and still sappy wood.

You would have been better off weedkilling the trees first and then when
they are at least half dead chopping them down. The tree will respond by
suckering much as it would in a forest, but if it is weakened first then
it takes less time to pack up. As you have discovered poplar tree roots
go a long way.

How much of getting rid of our roots, and our roots in neighbours
garden, is our responsibility considering the stumps are actually on our
land? Will we foot the bill? We were not aware of the trouble the trees
would cause when we purchased the property.

Given that the neighbours agreed to the idea of chopping them down I
doubt if they have any comeback on you. But it is going to be a bit
difficult when they complain about it. All you can really do is say
sorry and hope that everyone will all do their bit to stop the suckers
from having a chance to see the sun. There is a lot of stored energy in
tree roots so it may take a while.

Regards,
Martin Brown