Destroying a tree root

[boogieman84]

I have recently cut down some trees(More like large shrubs) however have been unable to uproot them. I have cut them down to the base and hacked away as best I can but they are still sprouting new shoots, what is the most environmental way that I can kill the stump/roots or cause it to rot?

If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Also before anyone is outraged I have only done this so I can replace them with native trees which are beneficial to wildlife.

Thanks in advance

[Dorts]

If you don't want to use any chemicals you have a couple of options.
You can either dig it out; can be done, just needs time and effort, helps if you can just get a foot or two below ground level.
Or, in the spring you can cover it with black polythene or similar and leave it covered for six months or so.
Personally I would use a contact spray, ie. a Weedol type weedkiller or SBK, and spray the new growth every time it appears. This could also take several months to kill all growth. These contact sprays are neutralised as soon as they touch the ground and leave no residue.
A lot will depend on what species of shrub it is as to how much it is likely to re-grow.
Dorts.

[tomomoto17370]

You could hire a stump grinder, or simply dig around the base of the stump and winch it out. Personally, the use of herbicides is used as a last resort, although, if it is a Yew ( Taxus baccata ), then i would consider using chemicals, as they are really tough to grind down and dig out, Holm oak (Quercus ilex) is another species i would employ chemicals as they absorb salt which makes the timber tough and chrystaline, which blunts chainsaws pretty quick.