I have never tried your system to kill tree roots, but I think I would wait until the normal spring awakening has passed to remove the cover. Al

Me too.

Covering with wood chips worked for me with a chinese elm stump that kept resprouting.

Some nitrogenous material will also help feed the bacteria that will break it down. Coffee grounds, kitchen compost and green yard waste, such as fresh grass cuttings, green leaves, etc.

You could also use animal manure or human urine.

Which stump killer did the tree guy say would hurt the other trees roots? Stump remover is usually just potassium nitrate which is fertilizer. It basically feeds the bacteria that eats the wood. And from the research I've seen, glyphosate doesn't pass through root grafts.

For over 20 years I have killed the roots of remaining stumps by painting the cut surface,IMMEDIATELY, with full strength 41% roundup. Not all trees will regrow from a stump, or roots in the ground, so I use Roundup selectively. If I am asleep at the switch and miss a tree, I can still kill it by spraying the new growth with brush killer, but it will take usually three years to kill. Al

me too Al.

Never, ever send a dime to monsanto. It is arguably the most reckless corporation on earth.

Over 80% of supposedly heirloom corn is now contaminated with viral genes thanks to these creeps. GMO foods are demonstrated to cause tumors...

I could go on and on. Do not send them your money. There are a million ways to kill a tree stump.

Thanks for your responses everyone.

Yukkuri, did you have plastic underneath the woodchips, or just straight woodchips on the stump?

woodchips, compost & urine, no plastic, but plastic will help keep moisture in and light out.