We recently cut back some Wisteria that was growing on our pergola.
by
Mikki C
+16
Although it's very pretty, it's taking over. We are trying to cut out all the roots, but we are looking for ideas on how to kill what's leftover - organically - if possible. We will NOT use round up. Any suggestions?
Wisteria invasion
19 answers
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Hi there, You might try something acidic such as vinegar. Is there a reason that you don't want to use Roundup? It is probably one of the best ways to get rid of it. If you cut the vines real low, you can "paint" the stub end with the Roundup and not have it negatively effect any surrounding plants.
Dan's of Central Florida, Inc.
on Aug 08, 2011
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Taking on wisteria is quite a challenge, Mikki. First, re-cut the plant and paint the exposed surface with a brush dipped in full strength organic herbicide. Wait a week or so and then dig around and sever as many of the large roots and runners as you can, remove them and throw them away in the trash: Do not compost! The plant will grow back from any living roots left, so religiously keep removing any new sprouts that crop up. Cut as close to the root collar as possible. Eventually the root store will be depleted and cease sending up new shoots, but you may well do battle for a couple of years before you are fully rid of your wisteria. Good luck!
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 08, 2011
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I agree with Dan - Roundup can ease the transition ....but either way, you are going to be faced with years of combating root sprouts near and far from the original vine. The best organic offense is to clip sprouts immediately when seen. You're looking at a two year process to starve the root system.
Walter Reeves
on Aug 08, 2011
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Wow! This was my first ? here on Hometalk and these suggestions are great. Not using round up is something we just don't want to do for various reasons. One being that we try to do anything we do in our gardens as organically as possible. Douglas, the advice on the herbicide was great. We will try that. We won't be composting ANY of the cut offs. We have some friends that are taking the bulk of it, the rest, going in the trash. I figured the process will be something that would be long, so I guess we will be pulling roots and such for awhile. Thank you!
Mikki C
on Aug 08, 2011
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mikki, i had a friend w/a problem alike yrs - she cut as much as she could & "painted" it w/tabasco sauce! - it helped!
Alicia F
on Aug 08, 2011
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I understand about not using roundup. I had a mimosa tree (famous for resprouting) and borrowed a sawsall(I think that's how you say or spell it) from Walter and cut out as many roots as possible. Best of luck.
Erica Glasener
on Aug 08, 2011
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Douglas and others - any suggestions on some good organic herbicides?
Mikki C
on Aug 08, 2011
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You are so right Erica. Mimosas are spectacular but will go right for your water lines and wrap around any slight seepage...pretty when they bloom but a mess if over a concrete driveway! All those creepers are tough to get rid of once you find how invasive and dominate they can become...we just tried to ward off a bamboo stand to little effect and those leader roots are tough to find sometimes! Good Luck Mikki, you got some great answers for your first visit! "Come on back now, y'hear!" JL
JL Spring & Associates
on Aug 08, 2011
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@Mikki: I can't speak from personal experience, but Nature's Avenger Organic Herbicide won a 2008 Green Thumb Award, is EPA registered, OMRI listed and approved for use in organic production/gardening by the USDA NOP.
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 09, 2011
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That product is actually made near hear by some folks that used to be landscapers! The hotter it is the better it works, and it smells great! Keeps the cat from urinating in the corner in the office as well :)
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Aug 09, 2011
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I'll be curious to see how this turns out. Please keep us informed!
Walter Reeves
on Aug 10, 2011
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Thanks so much everyone. Someone told my husband to put salt on the ends?? So he wants to put salt in sandwhich bags and tie them to the end roots.. we'll see how that goes. We found the main root ball but are still finding LONG roots even under the patio. I have a feeling we're going to see this come out somewhere else.. ugh.
Mikki C
on Aug 10, 2011
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Your suspicions are, sadly, going to prove prescient, Mikki, but persevere! And please do post a photo of your octopus of a plant with bags of salt tied all over.
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 11, 2011
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Here's an update on the Wisteria story with pictures- http://www.thenotsoperfecthousewife.com/- sorry, I wasn't able to get the pics of the salt bags before he buried them. LOL.
Mikki C
on Aug 14, 2011
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What a cute blog and testimony...I enjoyed it.
JL Spring & Associates
on Aug 14, 2011
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Thanks for the update, and the link: cute blog!
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 15, 2011
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Yes salt kills safely and effectively. If you want to secretly kill your neighbors tree- wait till it rains and then sneak out at night and pour on a large bucket filled with warm water in which a box of generic table salt has been diluted. Works every time- though it may need a few applications. ;)
Kelly F
on May 30, 2012
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wow Kelly, that sounds like a criminal lawsuit waiting to happen for destruction of private property. I recall a customer won a suit something similar to that when their neighbor decided to chop down a wind/screen barrier between the two homes when he took about 30 of their trees down.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on May 30, 2012
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O definitely. That's why I said be wery wery quiet.... dark, rainy night................ LOL Please don't talk to me about a 30 tree windscreen. the attorney next to me planted 100 pine trees in a linear row between the properties on what he assumed to be HIS PROPERTY. Alas- the survey markers clearly indicate that I now have 100 pine trees down the entire one side OF MY PROPERTY. In fact they all are 5 feet over the line on my side. ugh! :0 So we are going to have become litigious with the lawyer. I am not happy.
Kelly F
on May 30, 2012
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