Removing invasive tree from asphalt driveway

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hi! I have a small tree that's growing up through our driveway and I'm wondering what the best approach would be for removing it. The tree is small in diameter so cutting it won't be a problem. But it's the growing roots I'm worried about. Is it possible to cut it down to the asphalt and then kill the roots with a chemical application (preferably something naturally-occuring that willl be least harmful to surrounding plants and critters)? Is this something that I could tackle myself? Or will this involve ripping up the asphalt and digging into the ground to uproot the roots? Thanks for any tips!

Featured Answer

krnuttle

4 years ago

Since it appears that it is in the gate area, if you put a plastic bag over it the bag will end up in the back yard. A block would also exclude the light then you have the doctors cost when you trip over it.

SO if it were me I would cut it as close to the asphalt, and each time you walk through the gate break of any suckers with your foot. After a while it will die, and no chemicals.

In the future if something comes up that looks like it is worth keeping, pull it out and plant it somewhere else. This is from experience. About 11 years ago we were helping my daughter clean up her yard. We found a magnolia that had sprouted from a seed and was about 14" tall. It was growing at the edge of the Air Conditioner pad. My wife worked it out with as many roots as possible and planted it in our yard. Today the tree is about 10' tall and flowered for the first time a couple of years ago.

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Comments (7)

mojavemaria
4 years ago
I’ve killed small trees with no chemicals by cutting down and then covering with a black trash bag. Any new growth receives no light and the tree should be dead by the end of the season.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years ago
Yes. Cut it down and exclude light. While you’re in that corner I’d prune the rose before it gets any wilder. That will make cutting the mulberry a less painful experience .
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
cut it as flush to the ground as you can .. and then apply a stump killer labeled for such use ..

round up used to labeled as such ... 100% .. and drip or painted on ..... its not a spray thing ... read the label

cutting down.. or pruning it.. will not kill an otherwise healthy plant ...

if any green reappears.. treat it again with the killer ...

dont make this harder than need be ...

ken

ps: the color of the bark suggests mulberry.. but the pic is so washed out.. im not even sure about that ...
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beesneeds
4 years ago
Cut it down flush to the ground. Then heavily paint it with black paint, black rubberized paint, or best would be a bit of driveway coating or paint. The coating will smother/kill the stump along with potential suckers and also blend that spot into your black drveway.
Linda M
Original Author
4 years ago
Lots of great tips, thanks everyone! Looks like cutting it down close to the ground and then painting is the best option. Will the black rubberized paint be enough, or do I need to use herbicide? I was worried about the consequences of having to pour or spray the herbicide all around the tree, but if it's just dripped or painted onto the leftover stump, maybe that option isn't so bad...
Linda M
Original Author
4 years ago
@kmuttle that's a great suggestion! Will definitely keep in mind for the future. I use an app to try and identify weeds, flowes, trees, etc that I come across, so will keep an eye out for anything worth relocating snd replanting.