How do I stop the shoots growing from this lilac stump?

I don't think tar is much use. Best use a propitiatory stump killer such as SBK.

Snag is that it may well kill the lilac... but I'm with you hate it... so go ahead!

Aha! Should have read the question to the end!!! Lol.

The only way I guess if you don't want to kill the neighbours half (have you asked them by the way?) is to physically cut this away. A chain saw might be useful.

Have to confess we got rid of a neighbour's lilac which was infesting our garden by injecting with Roundup...

Oooh-errr...a vandal, no less! LOL.

Yup, that's me... the damned thing was suckering all over our garden and a friend gave us the advice :-)

i fear chainsaw/strimer if into ground-fly stones into legs-you understand?
best to take timewith trowelspade knife nad fork, secateers,
if you realynot likehard work, buy spirit of salts, andpour undiluto nto stump. acid willonle kill wat it tuch.
see farmicist.

You got it Derekf... destroy!

yes mmongrower- the gardenders ultimat defense to naybors plnts-areely strong acid.
Reduc down fox wee is rreely lethal, i am told, but inver could ctach one to find out !!!!!

I'd drill into the stump and treat with SBK without a qualm, I'm afraid. I have a blog on tree stump treatments, Andrea - might be worth a look for you, because it tells you exactly how to do it...

Sounds like we agree - destroy :-) Not that I like destroying anything but lilac is a pain in the pudendum!

What have you got against Lilac Moon grower?
If you cannot cut an over hanging tree without giving it back to the owner can you do this? I would really like to know Got a problem myself never dared kill it though?

This lilac is growing on Andrea's side of the fence, not on the neighbour's, Drc,- she's entitled to deal with what's on her side. Just be a bonus if it got rid of the original tree though, but let's pretend I didn't say that! I really like lilac, but they're a real nuisance because of their suckering habit

If you cut back as much of the bark on the stumps as you can well below ground level, get a plastic coffee pot, fill it with wet sand/cement, push down over the top of the stumps, cover up with small stones. Any side suckers that grow can be cut off at first sight.

Agree with Bamboo... they have a pain in the ass suckering habit and made a mess of part of our garden. Actually in our case the damned things got some lilac disease/virus so they died off - and no we didn't do it - honestly!

So Bamboo even if it grows on the neighbours side I can treat whats on mine with weedkiller?
I have a lilac where I dont want it to sucker. Planted spring 2008 will it be hell to move? Perhaps I should just get rid of it Moongrower?

Probably Dcrc... and yes anything that is growing in your ground you can treat with weedkiller.

Thanks moon grower.

Shouldn't be too bad, but I wouldn't leave it any longer!
And I'd treat what was on mine with weedkiller, yes, though I probably wouldn't mention it to the neighbour, if I'm honest, just in case it affects the tree. I'm not convinced it will though - have you ever noticed how easily the things you want to grow keel over, and how difficult it is get rid of something you don't want? Whenever I seeded lawns, I'd discover it growing beautifully in the borders, and really patchily on the lawn area...

Oh yes Bamboo... see this all the tim - sigh!

Murphy's law, or, as we say here in London, sod's law!

lol Bmboo Mr MB seems to think it is bed time :-)

I shall have it out tomorrow! It took me ages to decide what to put there but its not pretty just tall so Its a relief really.

Nooooooooo you cannot use anything that will damage the lilac on the side of the neighbours boundary, I am pretty sure they planted it. If you damage or kill it it could be considered criminal damage!!!
If I thought that I'd have poisoned the bloody thing ages ago!! That was why I just needed information on how to stop the stump from sprouting. I'll try Doctorbob's idea of cement and plant something a lot nicer with a more aggressive habit - Clash of the Titans. I hate it, it looks really woody and straggly on my side with only a small canopy about 9' above ground. I have noticed today they have given their side a haircut, I'll see if I can cut off a few branches on my side.

But Andrea, if the stump is in your garden, wherever its come from doesn't matter does it? Its in your garden, your territory, surely, yours to deal with as you see fit?

Yes, as long as you don't cause damage to the plant on the neighbours property as that belongs to them, especially if they planted it in the first place. It would be like someone spraying Roundup on your passiflora because it came over their fence, the poison would travel down the leaves, into the roots and kill your plant. They would have damaged your property. Then we venture into the dark world of the legal profession who sit on their firey thrones presiding over the kingdom of the damned :) lol

I thought that must be so Andrea but why when neighbours plant things like this right on the boundary and it affects the neighbour is the law on their side? About 8 years ago my neighbour planted a full size weeping silver birch right on our boundary (their only tree) and its only weeping over our side seems I have to accept it.

i thikn half aweeping silver birch,fromtop to botom, not look goodto them.
my anwser was to platn Rosa Filipes Kiftsgate, but Polygonum baulchuanicum willdo. Eventully, one or otherwill totalycover ther garden. theywil havto chophalf ther tree downto getrid of yorplnt, and that onlyleve them with qaurter of a tree!!!!!
i like equalibrium!!!!!

I know it is difficult sometimes, but you are not allowed to damage someone else's property. When people plant trees in their garden they should consider the long term effects before they dig that hole and pop them in. I have planted 3 trees (2 evergreen - a monkey puzzle, magnolia grandiflora and ginko biloba) along a 150 ft garden, all very close to the neighbours border. I am now wondering whether I should re-site some of them. If you do notice people planting stuff that may be problematic in the future, raised your concerns with them verbally initially, then in writing. This may be your saving grace in the future. I don't think there is much anyone can do about a tree weeping over your boundary, you can trim it. As long as it's not damaging your property there isn't anything you can do.

Andrea you have every right to deal with the stump in your garden as you see fit. If this 'happens' to kill the lilac that is not your problem. Your neighbour should not have allowed it to invade your garden! Have serious words with him/her if you think it will help but folk that grow invasive suckering shrubs and allow them to encroach into their neighbour's garden(s) get what they deserve in my opinion.

As well as putting the pots over the big stumps, purchase a large privet (not my favourite shrub), plant over the Lilac making as much damage as possible of the Lilac roots. Pile up a 6 inch heap of farmyard manure all around it and keep moist in mild weather all winter.

Hi Dr B what will that do? Seriously curious!

Thing is Moon grower if you do damage a neighbours overhanging plants/ trees/hedges it can cost a fortune if they take you to court, and tie you up for years - from what I have seen in the press about disputes I would never risk it.
Ps I was out first thing digging up the Lilac surprisingly easy - but couldnt throw it out so it is now in an area where nothing grows so it can do what it likes.

Well I know you're fully entitled, in law, to trim back anything overhanging your garden and return the cuttings to the owner - but only upwards of the fence line on your border, not on their side. And I'm with moongrower on this one - I'd treat the stump my side, kill it off - its unlikely it will kill off the original plant their side anyway.

In my experience Lilac is nigh on impossible to kill off!

Yep, you get rid of one lot and more arrives further away...

I've replanted mine near a field!!!

Oh well, it can spread for miles there, then!

Bet you'll be popular, not, if it takes over Drc

Good Morning Moongrower, sorry for the delay in answering your query it was past my bedtime. LOL.
The Privet will grow very fast, drawing up the growth of the Lilac and as we all know fresh farmyard manure does not promote good growth. The main aim being long leggy suckers (both sides of the fence) which are weak and will grow themselves to death. The Privet will act as a monitor. In time you can remove the Privet and plant a shrub of your own choice which will benefit from the broken down manure which will be good humus. Don't spray for aphids and mildew.

Well! Docbob, we learn something new every day, don't we!

Good luck, Andrea! xx

Indeed we do... thanks Dr B.

Thanks for the advice Dr Bob. Unfortunately I have already put shrubs around the stump and there isn't any room for a privet. I may pop one in and keep it trimmed really low so it can smother the lilac. Great help everyone fantastic discussion xxx

Andrea, areyoua cook? Ifsom, then get mixer and fill with sulphur, charcole an pottasumnitrat. mix well and craminto small pot.
putpot by lilac and light.
runfor l;ife before bang happen.

no morelilac-jobdone

it is interest thatthe first gunpowder was call a "meal", and mix with monks urine, but i not no if you noany monks.

if you do, stanwell back!!!!!

Sounds a bit drastic Derekf lol

yes, especil ifyou forgettp take off the fresh farmyard manurebefor you lite the fuse!!!!!

LOL. Poor Andrea! BANG!!!!!