Killing Tree Roots After Removal: What to Watch For

After cutting down trees whose roots threatened a sidewalk, the stumps remain. Some species (oak, pine) rarely resprout; others (sweetgum, Bradford pear) sprout for years. Watch this spring: if no green shoots appear from the stump or surrounding soil, the roots are dead and will rot naturally. If sprouts emerge, persistently clip them at ground level. Without leaves to photosynthesize, the roots will eventually starve and die.