If you have an aspen tree in your yard, you may be familiar with the pesky aspen shoots that pop up all over your lawn. Aspen trees spread by sending up suckers, or shoots, from their root system. While this is great for the tree, it can quickly become a nuisance in your landscape. So how do you get rid of aspen tree shoots invading your lawn? Here are some effective strategies to try.
Why Aspen Trees Produce So Many Shoots
Before jumping into removal methods, it helps to understand why aspen trees produce suckers in the first place. Aspen trees spread through a process called suckering, in which new stems sprout up from the extensive underground root system A single aspen tree is often actually part of a large clonal colony, genetically identical trees connected underground
Suckering allows aspen stands to perpetuate themselves and expand their territory. It’s also how they regenerate following events like fire or clear cutting. For aspens, sending up suckers is essential to survival.
Unfortunately, this natural regeneration causes headaches in home landscapes. Even just one aspen tree can pepper your lawn with shoots, forming a thicket. Suckering tends to increase as the original tree ages or becomes stressed. Pruning shoots often triggers even more growth.
Hand Pull Small Shoots
For young shoots less than 1⁄2 inch in diameter, hand pulling is effective Carefully remove shoots by grasping low and gently rocking back and forth to loosen them Try to extract as much of the roots as possible.
Make sure to get shoots while they are small and easy to pull. Their rapid growth rate quickly makes them tough to remove. Be diligent about checking for new shoots every week during the growing season. It may take persistence over several years to get them under control.
Hand pulling works best in smaller yards. But with extensive suckering, it can become incredibly labor intensive. You may need to explore other options.
Apply Herbicides to Larger Shoots
Once shoots get over 1⁄2 inch in diameter, mechanical removal gets harder. At this stage, you’ll have better luck applying herbicide. Look for products containing triclopyr, glyphosate, 2,4-D or a combination. Carefully follow all label precautions when using herbicides.
For optimal absorption, apply herbicide in late summer or early fall when shoots are actively growing. First cut shoots down to 6 inches above ground level. Then immediately paint the cut stump surface with undiluted herbicide using a paintbrush. This transports the chemical down into the roots. It may take several applications on stubborn shoots.
Remove Original Tree with Herbicide
Eliminating the original aspen tree can provide long-term control by cutting off the supply of shoots. Start by drilling holes at an angle along the lower trunk and into major roots. Then fill the holes with concentrated herbicide, which will slowly kill the entire tree.
Once the tree is dead, chop it down and paint the stump with herbicide to prevent resprouting. Grinding out the stump also helps remove the shoot-generating root system. Just be aware removing a large tree costs time and money. And suckers may still persist for a few years from remaining roots.
Installing Physical Barriers
In some cases, physical barriers can deter shoots. Options include laying landscape fabric or cardboard around the drip line of the tree, then mulching over it. The barrier blocks light and disrupts growth.
Burying galvanized metal flashing 8-12 inches deep also impedes underground root expansion. Edging between lawn and planting beds provides a vertical barrier to block shoots. Just know barriers require maintenance as shoots find ways to poke through.
Promote Thick, Healthy Turf
Aspen shoots thrive in thin, sparse lawns. You can discourage them by improving your turf density. Start by aerating compacted soil to encourage deep rooting. Then overseed to fill in bare patches. Fertilize according to soil test results and maintain a height of 3-4 inches.
The thick mat of grass crowds out shoot growth. But avoid overwatering, which favors the shallow aspen roots. With healthy turf, any shoots that do appear will be easier to spot and remove.
Be Persistent
No matter what control methods you use, getting rid of aspen shoots requires persistence. Their strong natural tendency to sucker makes them a stubborn adversary. After initial removal, continue checking for new growth at least monthly during spring and summer. Don’t allow shoots time to establish.
For severe infestations, it may take 2-3 years of diligence to deplete the excessive root reserves and reach manageable shoot levels. But with a long-term plan and repeated follow up, you can reclaim your lawn from an aspen shoot onslaught. Just remember that aspen trees tend to become high maintenance problems in home landscapes. Avoid planting them to prevent issues down the road.
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While aspens are lovely, they can quickly reproduce and choke out other plants. If you want to keep your aspen tree, youll need to continuously cut back the shoots manually. But each time you do this, new shoots will grow in their place, so this might not work in the long run. Instead, you can kill your aspen shoots and tree by treating it with an herbicide. Buy a broadleaf herbicide and drill 45-degree angle holes along the lower trunk and into the roots. Pour the herbicide into the holes, which should then spread to the root system. Allow about 6 months for your herbicide to work before cutting down your aspen tree. We have more tips from our horticulturist co-author below. Read on to learn how to get rid of your aspen tree.
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- Aspen can grow new shoots from its roots, so it might take a few years to get rid of all the ones in your yard. If you keep up with their care, they will stop growing over time. [12] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0 .
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Get Rid of Tree Suckers in Your Lawn ⏳⌚️⌛️ Garden Quickie #10
How do you kill Aspen shoots?
Aspens reproduce by creating clone shoots, also called suckers, that arise from the same root system. The shoots can spread throughout your lawn, choking out other plants. To kill aspen shoots, you’ll need to treat the entire tree with an herbicide. Alternatively, you could cut them back and continuously manage their growth.
How do I prevent aspen tree shoots?
Using landscaping barriers and encouraging natural predators are effective natural strategies to manage aspen tree shoot growth. Regular monitoring for new shoots and maintaining a healthy lawn are key in preventing the regrowth of aspen tree shoots in your yard.
How do you keep an aspen tree from sprouting?
Recognize that the tree will continue to sprout new shoots. Aspen trees continuously reproduce by sprouting new shoots, and cutting down a shoot will trigger the tree to shoot out more. If you want to keep your aspen tree but prevent new shoots from growing, you’ll need to constantly cut down the new growth.
Should I cut down Aspen shoots?
Cut aspen shoots only when necessary. Cutting them more often will cause the tree to sprout more shoots. Soon, the aspen could become unmanageable. It’s best to only start cutting down shoots when the tree has begun to overgrow other flora and fauna. Even damaged roots can grow new aspen shoots. Chopping up the roots is often unsuccessful.