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Sycamore and Hazel in Beech hedge

alexspinks78alexspinks78 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hello, I would be very grateful for some advice....
I have got quite a lot of Sycamore growing in a Beech hedge. I have cut it down from within the hedge but cannot dig the root out. Is there something I can treat thewthe stumps with to prevent it from regrowing? I also have Hazel invading the hedge, should I leave this alone or will it also outcompete the Beech? 

Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    alexspinks78 I imagine those with knowledge will fight shy of 'treatment' in case whatever you use affects the beech.  My only suggestion, for what it's worth, but one I'd use, would be to use a very strong rope, looped round the stumps, one at a time, and something immovable, e.g. can you park your car anywhere near the hedge?  Or is there a mature fruit tree nearby?  It's amazing how much pulling power you can get by putting a stout piece of timber in the loop of rope and twisting it over and over - an old farming trick for tightening up wire fencing using a tractor as the immovable.  Should it be necessary to abort the exercise at some point, don't just let go of the piece of timber as it will unwind at a rate of knots.  Unwind it yourself.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I would very carefully drop a teaspoon or two of SBK Brushwood Killer onto the top of the stumps, which should kill them off over time. We did this with an ash tree seedling right by our hedge which worked okay. You should also remove the hazel as this is very vigorous and will crowd out the beech. You can use the SBK on this if the stumps are big enough and you are careful. Make sure you read the instructions first.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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