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Snowberry taking over my hedge

TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
edited June 2021 in Problem solving
Hi. 

I’ve recently moved to a new house which has a leylandii hedge around the perimeter of the back garden. It’s about 6 feet high. 

On the east side of the garden it appears to be overrun with snowberry. There are currently two big bushes of it currently poking out of the top of the hedge at about 6.5 feet plus (after crawling into the hedge earlier) about 20 or 30 branches!!  

I’m aware that this plant suckers and I can’t get into the hedge fully(it’s about five feet deep) to even attempt to dig them out. 

Am I bound to crawling around and chopping as much of it off as I can each spring when it pops up or would a weed killer gel be an option? 

If I were to dab the gel on the snowberry leaves would the hedge be safe or do I risk also killing that? 

I suppose the third option would be to just let it grow away. Would it kill the hedge? 

Fourth option: move. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

J. 
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Posts

  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    I'd love to know the answer!
    Southampton 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I have some mixed in with my privet hedge. It gets cut when the privet does (bit of a nuisance though because it grows faster) and any that pops up outside the hedge gets pulled up with as much root as possible, or painted with glyphosate gel if it's coming up through a clump of another plant that I don't want to lift. This latter treatment did cause a bit that was in the hedge to turn brown, so I think if you're very careful not to let it touch the hedge you should be able to treat at least some parts of it. Maybe go for the parts that are sticking out of the hedge if you can reach them. Rubber gloves are useful so you can hold the offending branch/leaves in one hand and apply the gel with the other.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Thanks @JennyJ I might purchase a gel applicator. 

    Looking out of the bedroom window this morning I noticed it’s coming from a big bush of it in next door’s garden. 

    I guess I’m stuck with dealing with it unless they remove the parent. 

    It’s the only thing in their garden apart from grass and a washing line! 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It is dreadful stuff. In my naivety l brought some from our old house to this garden 32 years ago.
    Fortunately the area where it's planted has a "pan" underneath it that keeps it in check, that and me hacking it back every year. It's in amongst other shrubs so l'm loathe to use the gel with my cackhandedness. Could be carnage. 
    I wouldn't mind, but the birds never touch the berries even in the harshest of winters.
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    @AnniD It seems strange that you can still buy it to plant. I do wonder if one day we’ll see it on a list of ones to avoid completely. 

    The gel should arrive today. I’ve bought some tiny paint brushes so I’ll try and be REALLY careful. 

    I’m annoyed that I cut lots of it down last week as I now have nothing to apply the gel to but I know it will come back. 

    Let battle commence! 
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Good luck! The only other thing I found that works is the lawnmower, it's a horrible plant spreads by those seeds and by suckers, it does make a good windbreak if you have 20 acres for it to crawl over. It's also very flammable as all those twiggy shoots die and then stay standing, lovely dry tinder.
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Thanks @Skandi

    I have a feeling this plant and me are gonna have a long and complicated relationship!
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    32 years and counting. Good luck !  :)
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    @AnniD

    I might just move! 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    AnniD said:
    32 years and counting. Good luck !  :)

    Same here. Although now that next door have taken out the hedge between us and put in a fence, it's only really in the corner of the front hedge where it used to meet the side hedge. Plus the bits that come up from left-behind roots.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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