How do I get rid of these sprouts?

[Fly By Night]

Guys,

I'm clearing a spot at my house by the creek, I've gotten all the brush out and want to plant grass. These little guys have been popping up, I beilive they come out of the roots of the bigger ones,is there a way to get rid of them without killing the other trees?

 

[Raintree]

Not elm sprouts, spray 'em.

 

[magictoad]

And remove the wire from your tree.

 

[Fly By Night]

I can't ditch the wire, it's holding up an invisible fence accross the creek

 

[Enki]

You could drive a small spike into the ground for the wire? Not sure if there's any issue using steel with one of those invisible fences, so maybe a plastic tent camping spike?

 

[ATH]

if you"need" to use the tree for an anchor (which I do not think is a good idea), find a better way to attach it to the tree. For example, a wide nylon strap with plenty of growing room is much better than that wire. Put a couple of grommets in the end of it and thread your wire through those. (or better yet, use a stake as was suggested above)