Do Roots Stop Growing After A Tree Is Cut Down & Stump Ground?

[PGB1]

Hi All,
I searched all over the Internet Of Questionable Information and got conflicting answers if roots continue to grow after a tree stump is ground.

Reason?
The neighbors had an unknown variety of elm about 25 feet from my sewer, which is clay tiles. Roots invade the joints between tiles and I have to use copper sulfate periodically (or snake if I forget for a couple of months).

The city condemned the tree as a nuisance, which is too bad because it was huge and beautiful. The cooper's hawks had two nests and it was fun to watch them launch & circle each evening.

The tree was about 5 feet in diameter and the stump was ground today.

Do you think the roots below ground will still grow, or is my sewer safe?

Thanks for helping!
Paul

 

[cpp gardener]

It depends on if the roots sprout new trunks. Elms can sprout from roots, but it's late in the year so you might be okay.

 

[PGB1]

Thanks CPP Gardner!
It'll be interesting to see if any new tree sprouts show up after winter.
Paul

 

[Esther Knapicius]

some do some don't . depends on the tree. I still have one that spouts up along the cut truck. then there is some I have totally dead.

 

[PGB1]

Here's One I Got A Laugh Out Of:

One I cut down a very tall eastern white pine in the yard. I dug a 4 foot diameter trench around the stump to reach the spreading roots. Using a junky 12" long reciprocating saw blade, I cut the exposed roots. Next I pried the stump up with a long wrecking bar, slicing the tap root when it was exposed.

Yay! Job Done!

Nope- The next spring, I had a perfect circle of evenly spaced little pine trees growing!

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Here's One I Got A Laugh Out Of:

One I cut down a very tall eastern white pine in the yard. I dug a 4 foot diameter trench around the stump to reach the spreading roots. Using a junky 12" long reciprocating saw blade, I cut the exposed roots. Next I pried the stump up with a long wrecking bar, slicing the tap root when it was exposed.

Yay! Job Done!

Nope- The next spring, I had a perfect circle of evenly spaced little pine trees growing!

You have to admire it's tenacity, but didn't it have one in the middle from the tap root