A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs How to stop tree growth?

I need help stopping the growth of some unwanted trees in my yard.

I have them cut down to the stumps as they are small enough to do that to, but they're too big for me to pull/dig out of the ground. They keep sprouting new growth in under a week.

Is there anything I can do to stop their growth/prevent new growth until I can get them uprooted (& I don't know when that may be - not likely this year).

Is there something I can paint over the stumps that would do the trick? I've even considered pouring bleach on them, but don't like the idea. Please help me! I have 2 young children & don't have the time to prune these darn trees every week or more!

I do use Roundup painted on the newly cut stumps to kill them off. Full strength. This works for me. It makes organic growers shudder but it is the only thing I have found that works. It only works on new cuts and paint the whole cut.

I understand penny pinching completely. Paint may work. It cannot hurt. Paint thinner might work also. The thing is to get it on the cambium layer (just under the outer bark) before it calluses over at all. The fresher the cut, the better the effects of killing it off. That is the layer that carries things down to the roots.
Roundup wannabe is available at Walmart and it is called Eliminator. It has the same working ingredients as Roundup at a slightly lower price. I turns into benign stuff once it gets into the ground. But don't allow it to get on leaves of plants or grasses you want to keep.

Thanks again! You're a great help.
I think I'll try the old paint & see how that does. If that doesn't work I'll try the Eliminator. Thanks for the tips, tricks, & explaining how it works. I welcome anymore thoughts.

Thought I'd pop in & let y'all know that painting it with old paint worked to at least inhibit/slow growth buds. We had rain recently & the weather's cooled, & I'm ecstatic to report that I was able to dig up that darn tree all by myself with a flat shovel in a couple hours with our preschooler & walking infant "helping"! I used the tip to start digging about 20" away from the tree & after a rain, & it worked great!

Awesome! I am glad. Keep watch in that area for more possible growth next year. Some trees are zombies (living dead) and will not die!

Thanks for the tip! I'll keep a look out.