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Ash saplings in hedge

ReclaimingrebusReclaimingrebus Posts: 4
in Problem solving

Hi I have a 20 year old Berbers hedge.after some years of neglect it had some die back and was too big and unwieldy.I had it cut back to ground level to get it back under control.the businesses sprouting well but there are now ash seedlings in there. I want to get rid of the saplings, but not upset the hedge.digging them out is not an option.any suggestions any one pleaseimage

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  • cathy43cathy43 Posts: 373

    while the ground is dry you could try just pulling them out and if they are bigger perhaps move the soil away from the sapling trunk/stem and cut it as low down as possible. I have berberis as well, so it probably doesn't need said make sure hands arms and eyes are protected.image if they are smallish they should disturb established berebris roots

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,933

    Anything taller than a four-inch ash tree is well nigh impossible to pull up. Their roots are the very devil.

    I'd suggest buying one of those very expensive spot application weedkillers - just dab the ash leaves individually.

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Elizabeth WinstanleyElizabeth Winstanley Posts: 50

    My nextdoor neighbour has an Ash Tree in her garden, I seem to have loads.  Panstface is right, they are difficult to remove and if you don't notice them and pull them up straight away you end up like me with an Ash forest.  We are now cutting them down and using SBK on the stems.  I have a similar problem with Hazel but at least that is because I have an Hazel Hedge.

  • ReclaimingrebusReclaimingrebus Posts: 4

    Cathy,I have tried to pull them out but they are a foot tall and it's just not working.it doesn't help that the roots on the Berbers are well established and all the roots are well knitted in.You're right about how spiteful Berbers is, frequently I wish we never put it in.

    Pansyface, I looked at weedkillers but the gels seemed to be for weeds only, and the ones for saplings were all sprays. image and I don't want to risk using them because of damaging the hedge, which has a hard enough life as it is lol. Elizabeth, how are you applying the SBK please ?

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,249
    A glyphosate gel or should also work on saplings. I would put card between each sapling leaf to be treated and hedge, and spray so that any excess lands on the card. The odd stray droplet won't harm your hedge.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,249
    A glyphosate gel or should also work on saplings. I would put card between each sapling leaf to be treated and hedge, and spray so that any excess lands on the card. If the saplings are among bare stems, I'd just spray them up close in controlled bursts. The odd stray droplet won't harm your hedge, especially if it lands on bare stems or the soil.
  • ReclaimingrebusReclaimingrebus Posts: 4

    Thanks everyone, hopefully I can sort this out now image

  • jossgarveyhotmailcjossgarveyhotmailc Posts: 4

    We have hundreds of ash seedlings as we have a huge Weeping Ash.

    My husband uses pliers and pulls from directly over them. Works every time even on second year seedlings that have escaped.

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,933

    Ooh, pliers! Never thought of that!image

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • ReclaimingrebusReclaimingrebus Posts: 4

    t tried this and I need bigger pliers. BUT, the ones I have work great on the plum tree suckers and for getting the couch grass roots out from between the stems. image And while I was looking for bigger pliers I found my missing hand drill, driving sunglasses, and hammer so a brilliant result all round lol.off to buy some bigger pliers image thanks all

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