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I know it's not a weed but
Dilly3
Posts: 91
This trailing plant has been growing in my garden for about 20 years and I can't get rid of it. It's roots are as you can see in photo between the brick step and under the door step so when I remove it I can't get to the root of the problem. It started life in a half barrel and has never gone away, and it seeds everywhere but I can get rid of those but not these ones . I have 2 door steps and if it had it's way it would cover the whole of the patio.
i would like a non toxic friendly way to kill it once and for all, can you suggest something ?
it's quite pretty and I did like it once but that was about 20 years ago and I've gone off it now.
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Posts
Paint the leaves with glyphosate gel stick.
The only non toxic way is to keep pulling up every scrap until it gives in. Other than that, weed killer spray or gel or a flame gun.
Poor hot water over it.
Last edited: 20 August 2017 19:11:37
Use glyphosate based weedkiller,but say " sorry" as you're doing it.
In your own words, you've been trying your way "for about 20 years" . Surely you have to accept it's not working?
Hi all,
just read some reviews on the glyphosate gel and some are not good so will think about that one.
I did wonder about pouring boiling water mixed maybe with something on them, is there anything I could add to the water?
The roots must be somewhere deep under the bricks so apart from asking the OH the dismantle the steps not sure how I'm going to get to them.
I'll just have to keep pulling them out but it's like painting the fourth bridge once I've done it it needs doing again within a few weeks.
i know I've been trying to remove them for over 20 years but for most of that time I never had the help and knowledge of you lot ?
Salt, soap or vinegar will make it more unfriendly to the plant - or a mix of all 3 which would do for most things so don't spill it on the lawn. Making into a spray (warm not boiling) and spraying it when the sun is shining will probably also increase the chances of it working.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Just give a thought to all the mini beasts in there with the roots of the plant when you're boiling it, and giving it the salt vinegar. A toxic chemical isn't just glyphosate.
tbh glyphosate is probably less damaging though I won't be using it.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Boiling water will only kill the leaves, so hoeing them off would have exactly the same effect, there's no way it'll stay hot enough as it trickles down between those bricks, they look pretty tight. Vinegar spray on the leaves will do the same, but I would just weedkill it if I were as bothered as you sound.
Glyphosate Gel stick is really the best way to go. Wear heavy rubber gloves & keep them for that job alone. As you will only be rubbing it on the leaves there is no chance of it running off and contaminating anything else. You will not be spraying or mixing it or diluting it so the risk to you is so vanishingly small as to be practically non-existent. Unless you plan to lick the end of the dispenser!!!!
You may have to repeat apply several times but it will work eventually where you other methods have failed