neighbor's rose of sharon vs. my roses

[carrieebryan@yahoo.com]

My neighbor's rose of sharon, pruned in tree form, is jammed right up next to a concrete retaining wall only about 1 foot high on my side. (It's at soil level on his side.) About 5 feet away from the wall is a line of my rose bushes. Little sprouts grow by the thousand between them and the wall. I assume they're rose of sharon. They get so dense they choke out the bugle, not to mention the grass. Are they suckers or seedlings? It's hard to mow back there and I'd like to spray them if it won't kill the neighbor's tree. Advice, anyone?

Carrie in Independence, MO

[applestar]

They're most likely seedlings. They're easy to pull out when small and the ground is wet. I would let them dry out and then put them in the compost pile.