Sumac advice needed!

Posts

• CrankyYankee Posts: 504

  3 January

  I have Staghorn sumac all over my property and it's definitely tough to get rid of.  I don't like using poisons, so it's a constant battle to eradicate it.  I cut larger ones to the ground and keep cutting any suckers or new growth, and eventually the stump will die.  Once it's dead it's easy enough to pull up by hand, but it can take a few seasons of constant cutting.  I've dug them out, too, and if yours is small enough that may work.  The best method I've found is wrapping chains around the base and pulling it out with a tractor or riding mower depending on the size, but if they're in a small garden that may not be possible.
  

  New England, USA

  Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
  

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• Obelixx Posts: 30,090

  3 January

  It's the wrong time of year to apply foliar weedkillers and you'd need many applications to kill even a small tree.
  
  As it's still small, I'd clear the soil around its base and sever as many roots as possible before pulling or digging out the main trunk.   You then need to pull or dig out as many of the remaining roots as possible.  Replace and improve the disturbed soil before planting a new tree and be vigilant for any new suckers arising from surviving sumac roots.   It'll take a while but without a food source the roots will eventually die.
  
  
  

  Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
  

  "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."

  Plato
  

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• philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742

  3 January

  One method would be to shave of the bark right the way round the main trunk which will eventually kill the main tree.  Scrape away the soil from any emerging suckers and do the same.  Chopping off any visible roots will also help the process. 
  It can take a while and you need to be vigilant as Sumacs do love to spread once topped. Noted that you don't really want to use chemicals but  you can speed up the process by carefully painting the shaved areas with Glyphosate.
  This method worked for me and took approx. 12 months to be completely clear.  Sumacs are wonderful in the right environment but not ideal for small/restricted gardens

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• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  4 January

  If you mow the lawn around the tree that should keep suckers under control until they give up trying.
  To remove suckers by hand it's always best to try and rip them from the root by pulling the sucker in the direction of the tree.
  Suckers grow from a 'bud' on the the root - ripping them off by pulling toward the tree should also remove the 'bud' from which it appeared.
  If the root bud remains, more suckers will grow from it.
  
  

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

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• bethlivingston25461 Posts: 2

  4 January

  Thanks for your responses, which are all helpful. It sounds like a multi-pronged approach might be the way forward. If we ever get a break from the rain I'll have a go at digging, but if it looks like I'll break the path then I might resort to glyphosate. I like the suggestion of ringing the bark too. Then I'll keep ripping out those pesky suckered!

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