Need help removing a 10 year old lilac that was broke of in ice storm.?

The majority of the main branches broke of at ground level and i know if i cut them all off it will take many years to grow back by suckers. So what would be the easiest way to kill the roots so i could plant other shrubs in its place. I have hydrangeas in front of it so dont want to kill them .If i just keep the suckers cut off wont the rest of plant die?
Need help removing a 10 year old lilac that was broke of in ice storm.?
You can cut the stalks off at just above ground level, but leave enough exposed so that you may spray them with a Roundup (glyphosate) concentrate. You "do not" have to individually paint each stalk as Roundup has no "residual" action once it comes into contact with the soil. It binds almost immediately with soil particles and does not transport through the soil to other plants. Only thing you have to worry about is keeping the spray on your targeted plant. As long as you don't hit the foliage of a non-target plant, you will be ok. However, if you do treat the stalks, this will only prevent the plant from sending up new growth and will not "remove" the root matter underground. It will have to rot naturally and if you don't dig them out, so you can plant something else in its place, may take a couple of years or so. I personally would spray with roundup and then apply a second application 14 days later. Wait a couple more weeks and then dig out the remaining roots to free up a spot for a new tree or shrub. By doing it this way, you will eliminate the possibility of a root re-sprouting that you might have missed with the shovel. The Roundup will keep it from growing even if it isn't dug from the soil. Hope this answers your question...



...$Billy Ray$
Reply:Your welcome Report It
Reply:Cut off everything at or near ground level, and then "paint" the freshly cut wood with Roundup, an herbicide. This should kill the roots. Pulling Lilac roots might be too tough for you without some sort of mechanical advantage. I did it once, very hard even for a pretty big guy.
Reply:I'd move the hydrangeas asap, then I'd soak the heck out of the lilac bush until the ground is soft and pull it out.