Nuisance trees

Question: We have these trees that are popping up all over. They do well in the shade or sun. Their root system travels in all directions and more seedlings sprout up. We have been digging them up to dispense with them. We live in a forested area. Could you please identify them so we can treat them effectively. Thank

responder: Darin C.  Replied July 29, 2023, 10:26 AM EDT
response: Hi. Could you send me a photo of a single mature leaf laid flat on the deck with a ruler or some sort of scale next to it? That would help with the identification. Also, in the photo with the tree trunks (1904), do the trunks belong to the same plant as the root and the sprouts in the other two photos? It looks like they might be different and that the problem plant is the one with the smaller branches on the right side of the photo, but I wanted to confirm that. Thanks.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 30, 2023, 3:01 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your quick response. Also, they are fast growing and when cut down sprout branches like crazy from stump.Thanks again.Monica  On Saturday, July 29, 2023, 07:26:42 AM PDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Darin C.  Replied August 01, 2023, 10:19 AM EDT
response: Thanks very much for the additional high quality photos. I’m pretty sure those are actually sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium), which is the same type of tree that produces edible cherries. That smooth bark with horizontal stripes (lenticels) is characteristic of cherry trees, and if you look very closely at the leaf where the blade joins the stem (petiole), you will see a pair of small orangish structures. Those are small organs that produce nectar (extrafloral nectaries) and are also characteristic of species of the genus Prunus. There are many different types of cherries and close relatives (including plums) in Oregon. You can peruse a list of them from Oregon State University here, alongside a description of sweet cherry. That page doesn’t have great images of the leaf, but this page from North Carolina State does, and it also include a great video describing some of the features. Note that the leaf serrations include pairs of longer and shorter serrations, as in your photo, and the size of the leaf is also similar. Few sites describe this species are being overly aggressive, but this 2008 publication from the Native Plant Society of Oregon describes it as invasive and says that it is a widespread problem. Additionally, it is common for species of Prunus to sprout from their roots. The crabapples I have in my landscape do that (much to my chagrin!) and some wild species are described as forming thickets, so that is probably also the case for sweet cherry. Of course, you can confirm my identification in the spring when these plants flower and potentially later in the year when the fruits are present (though I suspect they get eaten quickly).   In terms of dealing with this tree, your only options are mechanical removal like you have been doing and/or using an herbicide to kill them (a non-selective one or one that is effective for trees and shrubs). This page from the U. of Minnesota describes various options in detail. If you do decide to use an herbicide, be sure to carefully read and follow the label directions.