Getting rid of sapling trees?

Question

We had an unwanted walnut tree growing in the yard. It was cut down once, but then sent up seven or eight shoots that grew up to the roof line. I chopped those down, but the stump keeps sending up new shoots and leaves. My son is totally opposed to chemical treatment. I'm wondering if I covered the whole thing with black plastic, would it prevent further growth. If the new shoots that are trying to grow are deprived of sunlight, will it keep them from growing?

Answer 1

We just had a bunch of trees cut down and some of the stumps we left b/c they are in places where we did not want the bushes around to be mutilated by the stump grinder.  We purchased some mushroom spores on line which are supposed to help deteriorate the the stump and all the way down to the roots.  We are using some shitake and portobella(these are supposed to be good for Oak) you might want to do a little research for Walnut. We are opposed to chemical treatment as well and are very excited to see the outcome.  I'll keep you posted.

Answer 2

Use table salt on the roots - we drilled a hole in our maple tree -

poured one container of table salt and left it - the tree stump

and roots died - no more saplings.

I left some walnuts by the house and they turned into

2 foot saplings - did the same thing - walnut roots are

unbelievably deep.

Table salt will leach away and not hurt the ground.

We tried black plastic - doesnt work.