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There's a shrub planted in the corner of my property, that the previous owner put there to help mask the utility pole behind it. I kind of like this idea, but there is another plant growing in the same spot. I feel like the shrub would be healthier, fuller, and overall better-looking, if I removed it.

The problem is I i'm not sure how to effectively remove one plant without harming the other. Is this even possible? If you look at the closeup below, you can see the trunks - I want to keep the larger plant with the chunky-looking bark, and get rid of the smaller plant with smooth bark.

I've had some success killing hackberry saplings in my back yard by cutting them near grade with lopping shears and painting the top with glyphosate, but I'm afraid that if I do that, it could enter the root system of the larger shrub. Is that an actual possibility, or will the glyphosate remain only in the target plant? If not, how should I go about this?

Shrubs growing on top of each other.

Closeup of trunks.

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It's hard to tell from the picture, but I think that may be a tree of heaven that sprouted there. If that's the case if you just cut it to the ground it will come back over and over again but if you keep cutting it back it will eventually die. Like stormy suggested, that's what I would do. If you don't want the hassle, I think that painting the freshly cut stumps with glyphosphate would kill it, and I don't think it would affect the shrub. Keep in mind that is a small amount of chemical and it will enter the tree of heavens root system, spread out and would be pretty inert by the time the roots decompose. I certainly would not worry about it hurting the shrub.

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  • Thanks for the confirmation on what I should do. Here's a closeup of the invader's foliage: i.sstatic.net/7v6fx.jpg. I was thinking it might be a hackberry, since there are other ones on the property.
    – Matt Sullivan
    Commented Jul 20, 2017 at 21:57
  • very interesting! This does look like a hackberry to me! The coarse looking leaf, the serrations, the asymmetric leaf base all point towards that. Nice ID. From a distance those looked like the compound leaves of tree of heaven. Not sure of the re-sprouting vigor of hackberry, but I would imagine that cutting back a few times would do the job with no risk of poisoning the other shrub.
    – Tyler K.
    Commented Jul 21, 2017 at 16:24
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I would just take a pruning saw and chop the newcomer to the ground. If it starts to regrow just chop the new growth down. It will die from starvation and you won't have to worry about surgery!

You need to create a plant less tree/shrub circle around your...lilac? Crepe Myrtle? Do at least a 3' radius circle.

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  • Thanks for the tip. I guess I don't really mind if it takes a little persistent effort from me :). And I'm not actually sure what it is. It's not a lilac or a Crepe Myrtle (though I do have Crepe Myrtles in my other front beds). Here's a closeup of foliage & flower: i.sstatic.net/ilEZY.jpg I'm in Central Texas.
    – Matt Sullivan
    Commented Jul 20, 2017 at 21:54
  • This is the easiest way to deal with the plant you don't want. I'll check out your pictures...thanks, Matt!
    – stormy
    Commented Jul 21, 2017 at 0:28
  • Love that gray foliage! I think this is Senisa. I am having a problem copying this link...look under Senisa and there is a new tab on the top that says IMAGES.
    – stormy
    Commented Jul 21, 2017 at 0:43

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