Please ID this pernicious plant and help me kill it without glyphosphate - Ask Extension
This plant pushes up between concrete seams and blocks, has survive all cutting and dousing with vinegar + salt, and now is putting up shoots in the m...
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Please ID this pernicious plant and help me kill it without glyphosphate #810685
Asked September 13, 2022, 7:58 PM EDT
This plant pushes up between concrete seams and blocks, has survive all cutting and dousing with vinegar + salt, and now is putting up shoots in the middle of a very dry, hard clay yard on its way into the neighbor's yard! First, what is it, so I NEVER purchase one by accident, and second, is there any way to kill this short of exposing myself and my photo-bombing puppy to glyphosphate or similarly toxic stuff? Thank you in advance!
Dana
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi, Dana,
This looks like Wisteria sprouting from underground roots, which is why vinegar and other such mild weedkillers is useless against it. Perhaps there was a wisteria in that location before the patio was put in? The roots of a wisteria that has been cut down can keep sprouting for years. You can just keep cutting it back, and pulling it when you can, and eventually it will die of exhaustion, or you can use glyphosate to get at the roots.
One caveat, if these roots are coming from a living wisteria nearby, glyphosate may well damage that plant too, and pulling won't exhaust it since it will keep getting energy from the mother plant.
Good luck!
This looks like Wisteria sprouting from underground roots, which is why vinegar and other such mild weedkillers is useless against it. Perhaps there was a wisteria in that location before the patio was put in? The roots of a wisteria that has been cut down can keep sprouting for years. You can just keep cutting it back, and pulling it when you can, and eventually it will die of exhaustion, or you can use glyphosate to get at the roots.
One caveat, if these roots are coming from a living wisteria nearby, glyphosate may well damage that plant too, and pulling won't exhaust it since it will keep getting energy from the mother plant.
Good luck!
