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Huge weed/ plant ID

AFC8AFC8 Posts: 20
in Problem solving
Hi, does anyone have any idea what this weed/plant could be? Its really tall with a very thick stem and has grown up through a cherry tree. It also seems to be sending up new shoots further along that grow straight upwards. Earlier in the year it had green pointed leaves on. Ive searched on google but cant really find anything like it and we're trying to find the best way to get rid of it. Ive attached a photo of the base, the main stem infront of the cherry tree trunk and one of one of the shoots growing up.

Many thanks :)


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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Anything that big and fast growing is usually a goat willow.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I'm pretty sure that is an Ash tree sapling and needs to be removed.  Ones that size are almost impossible to dig out in that sort of situation.  I deal with them but cutting to the ground and painting the stump with SBK brushwood killer (essential or they'll just come back stronger.)  They rarely re-shoot if you do that and the stumps rot away in a few years.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2021
    Yes those black buds at the ends of the twigs are a definite ID ... it’s an ash tree sapling. Get it out ASAP ... and where there’s one ash tree sapling there will be generations of others ... there must be a mature female ash tree in the vicinity.

    Tip of the year: Learn to identify the tiny ash saplings when you can pull them out between your finger and thumb each spring/early summer. It’ll be a lot easier than dealing with a flippin’ huge well-established sapling like that. They can be a PITA (the voice of experience is speaking here 🙄)

    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AFC8AFC8 Posts: 20
    Thanks so much for your help guys. @BobTheGardener and  @Dovefromabove looking at the pics online i think your definitely right it does look like the ash sapling. They sound like a nightmare  :( thanks for your tips on how to get rid of them though we'll get on with it asap!
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    You don't need to use much SBK and just one dip of the brush would be enough painted directly on the cut surface, making sure you coat the edges and sides.  You can cover the stump with an upturned pot etc. to keep wildlife away from the poison for the few days it will remain active. :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • AFC8AFC8 Posts: 20
    @philippasmith2 oh no these things really sound like a nightmare ill be hunting for them everytime i go in the garden now  :D 
    @BobTheGardener thank you thats really helpful we'll do that, we dont know alot about these things so really appreciate your advice! We'll get on with it this weekend. Thanks again  :)
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    We used to get hundreds of them. I found that newly germinated seedlings came out quite easily (silty soil), but up to say a foot they got harder. then from 1 to 2 feet tall they pulled up reasonably easily. After that...............HARD!
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    That Ash looks to be several year old and will take a bit of removing.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    If any ba*tard sapling has rooted in the most awkward place possible, like the middle of another tree, it is nearly always going to be an ash.

    If it's a sapling that has rooted randomly in a pot, it will likely be a willow, goat willow, goat willow.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Much beloved of the little Tom tits @Fire😀
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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