How to get rid of baby elderberry tree?

[LakieLady]

I've got a very small elderberry tree that has seeded itself in a tight space in between a mature spirea and an even more mature buddleia. There's absolutely no space to get in there and dig the bugger out.

Any suggestions on how to deal with it? At the moment, it's about 4 stems, each approx 2-3 feet long.

If I just cut the growing bits right back, it'll just keep growing, won't it?

I wish I knew. I've had one growing up through the middle of a large spiraea for about 30 years and it won't go away. I've tried cutting it back every time it grows, and I've put Roundup on it - which worked for a few months - but it's back like a boomerang.

If there was ever a nuclear winter the elder would be the first tree to appear through the ash.

Eventually it will stop. It needs the leaves to produce energy. If you keep getting rid of the leaves, it will be using its reserves, and eventually the reserves will run out. Or, cut it to ground level, then put a brick or something else on it to keep the light from it.

Starving it of light sounds like a plan. I wouldn't be surprised if it outlived me though.

There are actually loads of the damn things, I blame the birds for eating elderberries in the nearby woods and then crapping out the seeds into my garden.

SBK stump killer is your friend here. Cut it down and paint the stuff on.