Controlling baby trees
From small acorns grow great oaks.
With the intense suburbanization of the past half-century, many Americans find themselves living on the edge of the woods. Grassy lawns grow on land that was once wild forest, and the woods would reinvade and take over many backyards, if no effort was made to prevent it.
Growing a lawn on a lot deeply shaded by big oaks, hickories and maples is difficult enough. But every spring, homeowners discover new baby trees growing amidst the grass. These leafy interlopers may be small, but they are tough and woody. They will break the filament of a string trimmer, and may even damage a lawnmower's blade.
What's a suburban lawn master to do?
Baby trees growing on the lawn have two sources. Some are new plants, growing directly from a seed, acorn or nut. These are easily removed, just by pulling them up. You must make sure you uproot the seed, fruit or nut itself, along with the plant and its nascent root. This will insure that the little tree doesn't come back by next week.
Other baby trees are actually new shoots growing from old roots. These are more difficult to eradicate, and seem to regrow every time they are removed. The action of the sun on an exposed tree root will cause a new shoot to sprout, again and again.
A preventive method that works in some cases is to completely cover up the root with soil. This blocks the sunlight and prevents the chemical reaction that causes the root to shoot. However, once some roots have defined a growth point, covering them up is useless, and the new shoots simply push the dirt aside.
Instead of clipping or mowing these new shoots every time they reappear, you might consider removing the offending root. However, this poses some risk to the parent tree. It would be prudent to consult a professional arborist before undertaking this solution.
Living by the edge of the woods brings many joys - the quiet shade, the chirps of birds, the majesty of big trees. But the forest wants to redevelop your lawn! If you want green grass growing right to the edge of the leaf litter, you will have to clip, pull, squirt or cover up those new baby trees every year. Put it on your to-do list.