Invasive weed-borage/alkanet
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Posts: 279
Hi, I spotted borage wild in the garden since moving in a few years ago. I left it in as I garden for wildlife and organically - the bees love it - but it's spread prolifically and swamping new beds and plants so unfortunately it needs to be controlled. The rate of growth and spread is more than I've ever seen in years of gardening on any other weed. Despite best intentions I'm resigned to its removal in favour of less invasive bee friendly plants.
Digging it out has limited success as the 1-2 ft long tap roots break easily and regenerate fast. I'm on flint/chalk soil so some roots are impossible to remove without breakage. Some roots also go under a pavement near a public road and I can't dig that up!
I contacted RHS Wisley and they suggested I have one of borages's invasive relations - the perennial Pentaglottis sempervirens: also known as alkanet. They advise a glyphosate-based weedkiller such as Roundup. I'm not keen at all on this (See organic above).
Has anyone on the forum had non-chemical success in reducing controlling this/any tips? Thanks.
Posts
Dig it up, then dig it up again, I can't think of anything else you could do. It has, as you say, very deep roots but a plant can't survive without leaves so don't let any leaves exist. I may have to take action on this one some time but I quite like it and so do the insects.
I didn't know it was called wild borage I only know it as Pentaglottis sempervirens and green alkanet.
In the sticks near Peterborough
It'll be Alkanet as Borage is an annual. It'll seed like a menace, but you just pinch out the flowers. As nut says, just keep cutting it down. It'll soon take the hint.
Thanks both (nutcutlet and Jimmy). I think my mistake was confusing it for the annual borage. I only wised up when I saw the roots, no annual can have roots that big.
I am indeed hoping to weaken it eventually with continued removal and lack of leaves.
I wanted to keep it too for the insects but the spread in 2-3 years has been astonishing. Thanks again.
Difficult one, in keeping the flowers for the insects some are bound to reach seeding stage.
have you got 8000 wildflowers? I've never counted mine
I don't think there are quite 8000 P. sempervirens (yet).
In the sticks near Peterborough
H ha! No not 8000 wildflowers yet, perhaps just the 8000 alkanet seeds hidden in the soil!
I have a new wildflower meadow section behind our pond and try to garden for nature hence the name!
Luckily I don't have this one, but I do have other things and perseverance is key. Why not grow some annual borage in a pot initially for the insects and concentrate on getting at least part of your garden clear of the invader. If there is a part you could manage to cover, with carpet or cardboard, to deprive it of light, it might help you get a head start on the rest! Check whether your neighbours have it too, it might take a concerted effort. Good luck!
Hi buttercupdays,
My neighbours do have it I'm afraid, there's field next door so I'm stuck with their wind pollination/seeding. I'll try your suggestions, cheers!