Axe stunted trees (5)
I believe the answer is:
scrub
This clue is a double definition.
'axe' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'stunted trees' is the second definition.
(as in scrubland)
(Other definitions for scrub that I've seen before include "Scour; cancel" , "Do away with" , "Scour - stunted trees" , "Cancel (colloq)" , "Take out - clean" .)