How Do I Get The Walnuts Out?
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
United States
April 15, 2008 9:47am CST
I have beautiful gardenia bushes that survived the terrible drought last summer. I trimmed them up a few weeks ago, and found little oak and walnut trees growing up in the middles of them! Not beside or between the bushes, but up the centers. These new trees are about as big around as my thumb and chest-high, and last time I just cut one down, it sprouted new growth and the base is now far too big to even dig out of the foundation of my house. I don't want to kill these little trees, but I also don't want them to kill my gardenias or undermine yet another section of my foundation. So how do I get the trees out from the bushes without killing the gardenias? My husband says to cut the tree and spread tar over the small stump. What is your take on all this? Please help, before the trees get any bigger!
1 response
@peavey (16936)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I think your husband has the right idea, although I'd probably just paint the stump. If you cover it with something like that, it will keep it from sprouting and eventually it will rot away.
And if you find any walnut trees you can dig up, you can send them to me. 
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
• United States
15 Apr 08
What should I paint them with? Regular indoor paint? Cut the stalk/trunk, paint it, and it will rot away? Yay! Thank you! Will it work for other types of unwanted woody plants?
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Also, how far down should I cut it, and how much of it do I need to paint? All the way to the ground? Thank you so much for your help! And if I had any walnut trees I could dig up, I would be glad to send them to you! Alas, they only seem to grow where they are most inconvenient and unwanted.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Yes, they'll rot away, but it will take some time, so have patience. Any paint will do, but make sure it will withstand the weather. You only have to paint the part that's an open cut. I think the idea is to keep air and water away from it because that's what makes it sprout. You may have to cut a few sprouts back, but it will stop after awhile. I'm not sure about bushes, but as far as I know, it will work on any tree.
P.S. Cut it as short as you can, so it won't be in the way until it rots.
