Help in identifying this bamboo-like plant

[gargoyle]

Hello,

I have this plant growing right next to my house.* I wanted your help in identifying it to see if I can leave it alone or if I need to get rid of it.* I cut the main stem/trunk last year and it came right back!* It seems quite strong...sort of like bamboo.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,
gargoyle

[gargoyle]

and here's another picture, close-up of the leaves.* in the first picture, the plant i am referring to is the tall one.*

Thanks again,
gargoyle

[gargoyle]

Sorry, I'm learning as I go along.* The plant is located near Dallas, Texas.

-gargoyle

[thanrose]

Willow of some sort? It does not look like a bamboo to me, although I see why you might think so. The leaf shape and the twigs look like willow. The growth habit could be willow. The opportunistic plant so close to the foundation could be willow.

If it's a willow, rip it out. Save yourself and your home while you still have a chance. Okay, that's exaggerated, but you really don't want a willow growing that close to your foundation, or close to any plumbing.

How long has it taken to get this big? What did it look like when it started leafing out, or when it flowered?

[gargoyle]

Hmm...so it's going to get to become a proper tree?* Wow!* Thanks for the warning!

It's gotten this big in less than 2 years.* It sheds leaves in the winter, and has (IIRC) white flowers before the leaves come out.* It looked like a large weed when it started off...at least that's what I thought.

I cut it off about 1.5-2 years ago, but I did not pull out the roots.* It grew back!

Do I have to somehow destroy the root system to kill it?

Thanks thanrose!

-gargoyle

[thanrose]

It's sounding more and more like a willow. Some will be shortish, like black willow, some absolutely huge, and a few fairly tidy ornamental shrubs as with the ***** willow.

Google black willow images. You'll want to see several images, including the ones of willows in flower I'm betting this is it. www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/sani.html

Yeah, if it's a willow, you have to get it all out. There is a reasonable chance that you have sandy soil and some source of moisture there or it probably wouldn't have grown that fast in that location. I'd dig down as deep as you can around it, trying to get as much of the root as possible. A willow will grow many sprouts from a stump, even a root stump.

When digging up stuff like this, I've used pruning tools in the hole as well. You might find that the roots are just too tangled and you need to rock the trunk back or to one side, but a tenacious root is preventing you. So lop it off as low in the hole as possible and work on the main trunk and root. You can approach the lopped off bits later when you have more room in the hole.

This close to a house and there are several potential difficulties. There may be utility conduit or pipes there that you do not want to move or damage. The brick in the foundation may have allowed the willow roots to embed in them. The surrounding shrubbery may be damaged by your work there.

If you find that you have water sprouts coming up from the remaining roots, you will want to remove them as soon as you notice. The few leaves on even a young shoot will nourish the roots too. It's possible if you keep the foilage from coming back over this summer that you will have killed the root system too, but black willow is fairly tenacious.

Good luck.

[gargoyle]

*gulp*

I'm going to rip it out today...darn it.* it's such a pretty tree.

You're spot on...it's a flower bed, right next to a gutter downspout.* Very moist.

Thanks for* your help, thanrose!

[Newt]

Hi Gargoyle,

I agree with Thanrose.* It looks like a willow and you certainly don't want that within 100' of your house or a sidewalk.* They have long roots that extend beyond the outer dripline.

Newt