In the course of twenty years, a few specimen ligustrum planted by the
builder (because they were cheap) have pretty much overgrown the house. My
intent is to saw the suckers off at the ground, mulch the surface and let
the roots and stumps rot. The ligustrum seems to have other ideas. They
sprout suckers on a daily basis. Is there any way of killing the little
boogers off without terminating a boxwood hedge that surrounds them?

Bubba wrote:

In the course of twenty years, a few specimen ligustrum planted by the
builder (because they were cheap) have pretty much overgrown the house. My
intent is to saw the suckers off at the ground, mulch the surface and let
the roots and stumps rot. The ligustrum seems to have other ideas. They
sprout suckers on a daily basis. Is there any way of killing the little
boogers off without terminating a boxwood hedge that surrounds them?



Using MSMA or Glyphosate might work, just apply with a sponge or other
careful manner. They will kill most anything with green growing foliage.
I think thogh that killing 'woody' type plants is more difficult. There
are now multople types of RoundUp. etc. so be sure to not get some type
with an additional chemical for 'weed suppression'/whatvere as that MAY
persist in the soil.

You could also try covering the are with a layer of cardboard and put
soil/compost on top of that for a season. That might keep the suckers
from getting any light and leat the roots begin dying/rotting.

Carl


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to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:35:42 GMT, "Bubba"
wrote:

In the course of twenty years, a few specimen ligustrum planted by the
builder (because they were cheap) have pretty much overgrown the house. My
intent is to saw the suckers off at the ground, mulch the surface and let
the roots and stumps rot. The ligustrum seems to have other ideas. They
sprout suckers on a daily basis. Is there any way of killing the little
boogers off without terminating a boxwood hedge that surrounds them?


You need foliage for any glyphosate to work well. In other words I
don't recommend you use it. If you habitually cut the suckers off and
keep piling mulch on top it will die eventually from lack of
photosynthesis.

If you are hell bent on using a herbicide, wait till you get a good
top of foliage and very carefully, on a very calm day with not so much
as a breeze spray or paint it onto the foliage.