I'll just copy what I wrote in a similar thread, and add... GOOD LUCK!! I've told this story several times- I had two ancient Paulownia tomentosas removed from the front yard of our new house in May of '07- before we even moved in. I felt terrible that our new neighbor's first impressions of us were as tree killers, but it simply had to be done! As much as I hate killing a tree, I am not a criminal. The criminal is the IDIOT THAT PLANTED the damned things. I had the roots ground out as deep as the largest grinder would go. The roots shoots that came up that year were horrendous- one every foot covering the entire yard. It was literally a daily chore to keep up with them- you'd cut them all then the next morning there would be another hundred of them 2 inches tall. They came up again equally as bad in '08, all spring and summer. In '09 they slowed down a bit on my property but began seeking new areas as I saw them in neighbor yards as well- not only on the adjoining properties but across the street. Spring and summer of '10- three full years since I had the trees taken out- and I still got shoots. THREE YEARS! They slowed down considerably but I still had to cut down one or two every couple of days. They are impossible to pull. They are one tenacious tree. AND... I cut more root shoots in the spring of '11!!! Four. Full. Years. After the trees were removed. This tree is the devil!!! This is the very first year I have not seen one- five full years of diligently patrolling the yard with scissors to cut root shoots. In a way you're gotta respect that degree of the will to live!

Just an update - the tree is officially dead. Every leaf is brown to orange. The arborist told me it wasn't necessarily my fault the tree died, because it would take more than a dog pen over its roots to kill it. He suspects that it was stressed previously by construction that took place around its base prior to me buying the property. I think he was trying to make me feel better about the situation. I've gotten a good quote for removal, $1700 to take down and leave wood on premises, $2000 to take down and remove + $125 to grind out the stump. He is willing to take $900 to get rid of the tree, letting me make a payments on the balance up to 6 months. I haven't had tree work of this size done before, but I think this is a decent price. I'm looking for a replacement tree that I can put in the bare spot. Something that will be big enough to provide shade in about 5 years. I appreciate any suggestions.

Removal wasnt intially an option for me, but when you (and the other half, she refered to it as "letting it die a slow and natual death") put it that way, it makes sense. The tree is spotty all the way around. The only real area it is providing shade to is that back corner(back right in the picture). There arent any other shade trees in the area, so a replacement would definately be necessary. Throwing good money at bad, more than likely. Cutting it down and replacing with a properly placed, planted and taken care of tree may be a great option. Anyone have any ideas on how much it would cost to chop this sucker down and get some fire wood? I could also use some browns for the compost pile, or maybe some nice mulch? Another thing I have to consider is that my city does not like trees being removed An inch of replacement tree for each inch of DBH removed or "30 inch or greater DBH, $50.00 per inch removal" Unless: The tree is diseased or injured to the point it will ultimately expire or no reasonable remedy exists The tree is in immedite danger of falling and no economically praticable remedy exists The tree is significantly endangering existing structures so that its continued presence will ultimately cause damage and no remedy..... In the citys professinal opinion the tree is substantially endangering existing pavement or utility services in a manner that threatens to damage property or life The tree creates unsafe visibility that pruning will not rectify It is found by the city to be in the interest of the general publics health, safety and welfare that the tree be removed. I will be making a call to thecity tomorrow...

Yeah, a 5 inch peach tree is not much of a stump. If you're really worried about harming the oak, you could simply dig around that little stump and chop and hack away enough roots to smooth over with topsoil. Seems a non-issue to me, though I'm glad you like the oak. +oM