How do I permanently get rid of tree saplings coming up in flower beds?
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By Delores from Cleveland, OK
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You may have planted over a seed bank. It's unlikely you'll be able to get rid of them without harming your flowers. They will keep coming until there are none in the seed bank anymore. Until then, you can replant the seedlings in pots and give them away or try to sell them at a farmer's market.
The natural flow of wind and breeze drops the seeds everywhere. You just have to pull them out. May take a little muscle if they get established. My huge gardens and flower beds have their share, and you just consider them a weed and PULL.
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How can I get rid of maple saplings in my flower beds without using harsh chemicals? I need some home remedies, please.
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By Phyllis from Knoxville, TN
After a soaking rain is a good time to rid the garden of maple saplings. A pair of pliers might help to get a better grip. Grab the sapling close to the base and pull straight up and the roots come with the plant unless the sapling has grown too tall. In that case, snip them off at the base. (05/12/2010)
By Myrna
What is a natural product I can use to prevent mulberry (or any tree) saplings from sprouting and coming back?
Hardiness Zone: 5a
By kathy from Peoria, IL
You can try a thick mulch of organic material on the ground, such as compost or leaf mold.
(04/22/2009)
By Joy
Sorry about the double post, but Nimminoodle emailed me and said her problem is severe, and mulch won't do the trick for her. After lots of searching on the web for the answer both yesterday and this morning, I came up with the idea of using nips to cut existing shoots to the ground, then covering with a couple of layers of heavy plastic and placing mulch on top to kill the existing shoots and prevent any new ones from coming up.
My daughter was planning to put plastic on a large hill to prevent anything from growing there, but I had heard you can put discarded carpet over the area and cover it with mulch instead of using plastic. It is more durable, thicker, and less prone to getting holes in it when you step on it. It worked for her weed problem and I believe, because of the close-woven backing that it would be maybe impossible for the mulberry shoots to grow through it.
I also learned from my web searches that if you top a mulberry tree, you will usually end up with a profusion of shoots, so I guess either that is what caused this problem or it might be a future warning for you. (04/23/2009)
By Joy
If natural methods do not work out, there is Powerforce Brush Killer Plus by Bayer Advanced. It kills small trees sprouting in lawns were they are unwanted. I've also used it to kill many wild violets at once.
The opened resealable label on the packaging says it kills mulberry trees. It says it can also be used to kill stumps. The bottle to look for is blue with a red and black label. This is carried at Lowe's. (04/24/2009)
By Tara Eppes
