Knowledgebase
Roundup #872486
Asked June 10, 2024, 5:40 PM EDT
I was reading about how to get rid of a certain plant and someone mentioned using Round up! This is one of the worst products on the market for the soil! I'm a Master Gardener Volunteer trained here in Toledo, btw. I hope that some of these answers are older and people have learned that Round up has caused many maladies and has been found guilty of not being biodegradable as they have sometimes advertised and stays in the soil for a long time.
But having said that I'd like to know if there are strong organic answers to getting rid of the Chamelion (spelling!!) plant. It is so invasive. I did win one round on a small patch using 30% vinegar and was ruthless in applying but I'm finding that sneaky plant is now in the back yard and in place of digging up all the places where it is I'd like to find another answer. I know vinegar is not always the solution if I want to grow something there.
Thank you!
Pat
Lucas County Ohio
Expert Response
I absolutely commend you for looking for organic methods to eradicate this plant. Most advice says dig it out: dig down to get the rhizomes that spread (and which allow the plant to survive chemicals). They say it will take several seasons.
Another method is to put down cardboard on top of it and out a little farther to get the rhizomes that have spread underground. Then top the cardboard with mulch. You could actually add several inches of soil and compost and plant immediately. In the fall you could add leaves and other compostable materials, in essence building a new bed on top of the invasive plant.
I have used this method several times successfully. It is a great way to create a new bed. It is sometimes called the lasagna method. I have not used it on the chameleon plant and am wondering if I'd put down two layers of cardboard.
I hope this helps and I wish you good luck with this invasive plant!
