Sorry I dropped the ball and forgot to follow the thread. I do appreciate all your responses. One of the unwanted saplings I discovered later is an Ivory Silk lilac which grows like a weed. It was right up against a concrete border so I couldn't work the shovel in there. If I tried the shovel from the front, I was risking damaging the honeysuckle vine next to it.
The lilac was too rooted to remove when the earth was damp. So not having checked the thread, I lopped it close to the earth. I'll be checking it closely this year and if this doesn't work, will try your other suggestions.
Thanks again.
