Stopping Ash Tree Seedlings in Your Lawn

Hundreds of ash (Fraxinus) seedlings from a neighbor’s female tree? Two practical solutions:

1. Pre-emergent Herbicide (Preen)

• Apply in early spring before seeds germinate.
• Follow label; prevents all seeds (including desirable ones) from sprouting.

2. Mow/Weed-Eat Repeatedly

• Cut seedlings at lowest mower setting every 1–2 weeks.
• Repeated defoliation exhausts root reserves; they die out.

Long-Term

If the neighbor’s tree is removed, the seed rain stops. Until then, persistence with mowing is the safest, cheapest method.