My question is why I am getting new trees popping up all?

Question

over my yard (Chinese Elms). They grow everywhere and anywhere and in the last year I have 20 -30 new ones and they grow tall fast. What is happening? Even if I cut them down, they will grow back even stronger. (Zone 11 - Clay soil - High Desert)

Answer 1

I have not experience with Chinese Elm but it is quite common for trees that have roots near the soil surface to send up shoots when the main tree is cut bdown.

If your small trees are sprouting from roots then only spraying with an herbicide like roundup that will kill the roots is likely to be successful.

Perhaps continued regular mowing for a number of years will eventually wear out all the reserves in the root system.

Answer 2

It's nature's way of continuing the species.  The spores (seeds) from the trees get blown down by the wind, imbed in the ground, and start to grow. Cutting will not stop them from growing - they must be pulled up by the roots.  I have the same problem with my raintrees (in Florida).  Before I mow my grass, I pull up as many as I can.  This reduces the number of growing for about 2-3 months.  Unfortunately, as long as there are adult trees, spores will continue to germinate in the ground.