Girdling doesn't stop water uptake.

Instead, girdling stops transports of manufactured sugars to the roots. With such a big tree, will take quite a while for it to die. Figure on years.

Not to mention, a cottonwood may sucker. Forever.

Any ideas how to get rid of it without cutting it down?

recut and apply stump killer or roudnup to the cut ... dripped full strength.. not a spray thing ...

that way.. instead of pulling sugars into the root.s. you will pul the killer into the roots...

it will have no impact on your veg ..

if you dont.. i agree.. you will be battling suckers for the rest of your life...

ken

many dead trees.. like oak and maple.. the hardwoods.. can stand dead for decades ...

well ... i give willow years counted on one hand.. before it start rotting and dropping large hunks ...

are you sure.. that if and when it falls down.. it will harm NOTHING ...

are you the LLotus who built a greenhouse better than my house.. showed us.. and then disappeared????

if so.. would you spend to the time to bring us up to date.. and show us some pix???

ken

Hey Ken,

I am the LadyLotus that built a greenhouse but I doubt it is nicer than your house. ha ha ha. I have been so busy working an insane amount of time at work. Then I have to maintain my gardens and by the time I get done with that I'm exhausted.

I am still working on adding conifers to my garden beds. Things are really starting to grown up nicely. I still read the conifer forum periodically.

How are you doing?

your greenhouse ... had sliding glass doors.. and a pond INSIDE ...

that by definition.. is better than my house.. lol ...

ken