I need to cut down and get rid of the huge poplar tree ( Populus tremuloides ) that is growing behind my greenhouse. In the photograph it is the tall tree with white bark, one of its branches is hanging over the roof of the green house. Its overhanging branch is not the reason I want to get rid of it. It’s the trees roots I don't like.
Poplar Tree Roots
Poplars or trembling aspen are notorious for their aggressive, weed like root systems. The roots are thick, pencil like strands with a woody bark that tunnel horizontally about 3-5 inches beneath the soil. I’m constantly pulling them out of all my gardens. In the greenhouse the poplar tree roots have infiltrated the beds, greedily pushing their way into the rich black soil and sucking up all its nutrients. Pulling them out seems futile because they grow back again twice as fast. The effect the poplar tree roots have on the tomatoes and basil I’m trying to grow in the greenhouse, is horrible. Unless I can get rid of the tree I'll have to move the greenhouse, if I want to grow anything in it.
Profile of Populus tremuloides
Whole stands of Populus tremuloides are clones of one tree. In the spring the whole lot of them will leaf out at the same time and in the fall they all drop their leaves simultaneously. Their name, Populus tremuloides, describes the way their almost circular green leaves seem to tremble at the faintest breeze. Many a time on a hot summers day, I have lain on my back deck daydreaming and watching the apsen leaves trembling all together like a green symphony.
The aspen tree behind my greenhouse is only one in a stand that expands behind it. Getting rid of only the one tree may not solve my problem. All the roots of all the other trees in the stand may start trying to grow into the soil of my greenhouse.
Does anyone know how to kill a poplar tree? I mean stand of poplar trees.
Bring in someone with a big machine to lift and or knock them outta there. Otherwise you need to cut them all down but the suckering will contiue if there are roots though,so you will be pulling and or using herbicide for a while afterwards. I used to hate my Poplars, too, lol. We then moved and thereby acquired a new pest tree.. the Alder. Man does that thing seed everywhere and grow fast! Sigh. Hate them more than I did the Poplars Good luck!Love your greenhouse and potager!
ReplyDeleteNo idea on how to kill a poplar tree but it sure sounds like it needs to go. Maybe cut it down, mulch the area and spray volunteers with Roundup. Good luck and Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie, i laughed at your comments in my site about our 19-20C being your spring. I know and imagine what people in your climes are going through. I was in Sweden for a month always with 6-10C and i think i wont be able to go out often! hahaha. Can you imagine the suffering of our people who migrated to your country, and Alberta at that! When it gets -34C they always dream of home here.
ReplyDeleteAbout your poplar tree, our leguminous tree Ficus fasciata near our house is also giving us the same problem, constant cutting back is not enough to train it, and even sent some shoots on the exposed roots. Whew!