How Can I Safely Kill Roots of a Live Oak Tree Without Harming Seagrape?

Question

We have cut down a live oak tree that grew within a seagrape we want to keep. Is there a safe way to kill the oak roots without also killing the seagrape? The oak trunk is still about 3 feet tall, 5 in. diameter, and cannot be cut lower to ground where it is. It is too close to pool to allow to grow.

Answer 1

You can make cuts to the roots and drill holes in the stump and paint Roundup onto these wounds. As long as the Roundup does not touch the seagrapes, they will not be harmed. This will kill the roots (though you may need to repeat it a few times). You can also pour liquid fertilizer down the holes in the trunk after you do this to speed up the rotting process.

You can't remove them really without damaging the seagrapes though. You will just have to wait for them to decompose.