Best way to kill a crepe myrtle stump

[kebo]

I recently cut down an old, unattractive crepe myrtle in myparent痴 yard and am now trying to eradicate the stump. This bush had about 6or 7 trunks growing out of the main trunk, which is actually just below grade(I cut it as flush as I could). Thetrunks are probably from 3 to about 5 in dia.

I bought some herbicide that is made for bushes and smalltree痴 and my plan is to drill several 3/8 holes about three inches deep ineach trunk, pour some of the herbicide in, and then temporarily seal the holeswith a plug. Wait a week or so and then freshenup the poison. Will that eventually kill the stump? I know the preferred way is to justdig it up, but I really don稚 want to get into that much work/effort. Just easierto poison it and then wait for it to die and eventually rot away. Thanks.

 

[Ed of all trades]

If you just keep the suckers cut so that the stump doesn't get fed it will die. Just chop them off while they are small and it is little work it just takes a while.

 

[oldpilgrim]

backhoe....................easiest, quickest, most satisfying and permanent way to do it.

 

[murphy1244]

I use Pathfinder 2 for horticulture warfare.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I recently cut down an old, unattractive crepe myrtle in myparentç—´ yard and am now trying to eradicate the stump. This bush had about 6or 7 trunks growing out of the main trunk, which is actually just below grade(I cut it as flush as I could). Thetrunks are probably from 3 to about 5 in dia.

I bought some herbicide that is made for bushes and smalltree痴 and my plan is to drill several 3/8 holes about three inches deep ineach trunk, pour some of the herbicide in, and then temporarily seal the holeswith a plug. Wait a week or so and then freshenup the poison. Will that eventually kill the stump? I know the preferred way is to justdig it up, but I really don稚 want to get into that much work/effort. Just easierto poison it and then wait for it to die and eventually rot away. Thanks.

You method will kill it just fine. No need to put a second application of herbicide. However, to make it rot faster, fill the holes you drilled with fertilizer. Try to find some ammonium sulfate fertilizer. If you go to a big box store, you will probably find a product called 'stump rot' or something like that. Look at the active ingredient in the 'stump rot' and it is most likely ammonium sulfate fertilizer.

 

[DHD]

We use rock salt to kill and promote the stump to rot.
Drill hols in stump, fill with rock salt, then cover up the stump with dirt.

 

[C4Ranch]

I drilled as big a hole in mine as I could then poured pure glyphosate concentrate in the holes. Been dead for 3 yrs.

 

[kebo]

I drilled a number of 3/8" holes in it and poured in some Crossbow. Will freshen it up with more Crossbow every few days for month or so. Hopefully that will do the trick.

 

[atsah]

We use rock salt to kill and promote the stump to rot.
Drill hols in stump, fill with rock salt, then cover up the stump with dirt.

I do this but I do it so the moose eat the stump down to nothing.. No moose eating stumps in SC though.. :laughing:

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I drilled a number of 3/8" holes in it and poured in some Crossbow. Will freshen it up with more Crossbow every few days for month or so. Hopefully that will do the trick.

Crossbow will certainly kill the stump, but you will need only one application. As I mentioned before, you can use fertilizer or 'stump rot' to help it to rot faster. Adding Crossbow every few days will probably contaminate your soil in that area for many years. And, adding every few days is not on the Crossbow label, therefore it is illegal.