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Removing stubborn ornamental grass
sara haywood
Posts: 143
in Plants
I have a very large grass in my front boarder that I have often seen at riversides. (the plant at the back of this photo)
I am having trouble removing it,
I have cut it down, and as you can see the boarder is very narrow, I am having a devil of a job removing it, any suggestions? 
0
Posts
Carex pendula, pendulous sedge
Quite ornamental but a bit of a thugs, don't let it seed.
I can only suggest more brute force, possibly waiting til the autumn rains when the ground is softer
In the sticks near Peterborough
I'd give it a good spraying with glyphosate and leave it for at least a month, probably more - when the weedkiller has travelled back into the roots they'll begin to decompose and it'll be much easier to dig/pull out
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for the name Nutcutlet! It has been in for about 5 years and has really taken hold, I have been pulling out babies for years!
Thank you Dove, brilliant idea! I am off on my holidays in 2 weeks so if I do it now hopefully by the time I get back it will have taken effect. As you can see from the top picture it is quite majestic when in full flow but has just taken over, it is time to go and be replaced with something I can prune!
i agree, if you can zap it with weed killer, and let it die off, it will make your job easier. alternatively, if you want it gone sooner, then water the site well first, dig away at the surrounding soil with a spade, and lever it out bit by bit. The roots are not terribly deep, nor are they taproots, and will not grow back once you have the main lump out, though you will probably be plagued with seedlings for a while afterwards! I have dug a few out in my time, and the sense of satisfaction when it finally gives up is overwhelming!
All chopped now, nothing to spray
In the sticks near Peterborough
It'll throw out some new shoots soon won't it?
And new growth absorbs the weedkiller quickly.
Sara, give it a good watering and encourage it to grow, then when it's got a good crop of new leaves then zap it with the potion!!!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I like some about in the wilder parts of my garden but It's not suitable for a 'proper' garden.
In the sticks near Peterborough
It has had a good soaking, I will leave it to grow back a bit and just before I go away I will throw a pot of poison at it! Thanks for your help x