One of the best ways to deal with a tree stump that is still sprouting new growth is to dig out the stump. However, there are also other ways for those who, for one reason or another, don't want to resort to digging. Here are some of those ways.
Grind the Stump
This is one of the most effective methods for dealing with stumps that are still growing new shoots. For this, you need a stump grinder that cuts the stump into small pieces right to the ground level. You can rent a stump grinder and handle it as a DIY project, or you can hire a stump removal company to do it. After grinding the stump, you can cover up any remaining part of it with soil and it won't grow again.
Use Chemical Control
An alternative to stump grinding is to use chemicals to discourage the stump from producing any new shoots. There are two main chemicals you can use for this service. First, you can use herbicides that only target the new shoots and kill them as soon as they appear. For this, you will need to keep reapplying the herbicide as soon as new shoots appear.
Alternatively, you can use chemicals that accelerate the rotting process of the stump; the advantage is that once the stump rots, it's permanently gone. In this case, you drill holes into the stump, pour the chemical into the holes, and leave it to soak in and rot the stump. Consult your local tree company for a recommendation of the best chemical to use.
Cover Up the Stump with Plastic
Plants typically require sunlight and air to thrive, and they will starve and die without those two resources. You can take advantage of this fact to kill your stump so that it doesn't grow any new shoots. You just need to cover up the stump with plastic sheeting that blocks sunlight and starve the stump of air; it may take some time, but the stump will definitely stop growing new shoots.
Burn Down the Stump
Lastly, you can also take care of the stump problem by burning it down. For this, you need dry wood to build a huge fire on top of the stump, and then let it burn to the ground. Make sure you have the legal right to start a fire on the property and that you are prepared to put out the fire in case it threatens to spread.
For more information, reach out to a company like Brown's Tree Service.
After thinking about how to keep some of the flowers in my yard alive, it occurred to me that we had some real problems on our hands. For starters, we had a bunch of overgrown trees that needed to be dealt with. The second thing we had to take care of was the fact that we were really behind on basic yard care. I started talking with friends and neighbors about what they did to make things better, and they recommended a local tree service company. After they came out and made some changes, my yard was gorgeous. Learn more about tree care on my blog.