At the beginning of the summer, I had a crew cut down a larger crepe myrtle close to my house in the flower bed. I didn't plant it, but it was getting far too big and too close to the house for my liking. They also ground the stump.

I thought all was well, until 2 or so months ago when I noticed some shoots coming up at various locations throughout the flower bed and yard. As far as I can tell, the shoots are crepe myrtle growing up from the buried root remnants. I tried digging up the main stump to apply stump killer but can't find it in the flower bed. All i can find are huge roots.

How can I get rid of this vile weed? Is my only option to dig up a big portion of the flower bed until I find the main stump remnant and apply stump killer? Will that even do it or am I screwed?

I'd just spray the sprouts as they emerge. No clue how long that will go on though.

I pulled a few out with my truck & a chain. Pulled the whole root ball out. Mowed crepe sprouts for 6 years until we sold the house. They're yours forever.

Cut shoots and apply cut stump and vine killer
Will take a couple years but stay with it. I've removed 4 crepes and had to do this for each even when removing the stump

And to add, I hate lantana's!!!!! PITA!!!!

Buy your own chainsaw. Buy stump poison. Profit.

Tordon RTU

These are the responses I feared -- no "good" solution...or at least one that's not a long-term PIA.

Foolish builders planting a big crepe myrtle so close to the house! And shame on the previous owners for letting it happen!

I had wisteria at my old house. I cut and sprayed almost daily. Never got it completely under control. I drove by not too long ago and next owner had bulldozed.

Had the same issue. Fought them for years. I turfed my backyard and that did the trick. The CM shoots weren't the main reason, but they were a part of the decision.

You lost me when you hired a crew to cut down a crepe myrtle.

docb said:

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You lost me when you hired a crew to cut down a crepe myrtle.

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Well I hired them to cut out a bunch of roots from various trees poking out the top of my lawn and preventing grass growth, trim trees, and lay new sod. I added the crepe myrtle cut down spur of the moment. And I'm talking about the huge crepe myrtle trees, not the dwarf bushes. This thing towered above my house and had a trunk a foot wide.