Marianne's Response

How to keep trees from spreading

My wife and I inherited an established landscape when we took over her late father’s home. One tree is a crepe myrtle (sp). It is a pretty tree in the Spring and provides wonderful Summer shade for the back deck (it’s at least 12 years old). But it has become invasive with runners and shoots all over our back yard. I’ve cut, sprayed, burned the “runners, etc.”, but I’m losing the war. PLEASE, PLEASE provide your recommendations for control/eradication.

Posted by Craig Weckesser on September 13, 2015

Marianne's Response

Have you tried cutting the shoots and spraying the cut end with Roundup? This should send the herbicide into the root system of the tree. Otherwise keep mowing, because as long as the shoots cannot make leaves, they will not turn into new trees. Good luck, Marianne Binetti