Invasives are choking my yard - Ask Extension
We inherited a yard full of invasive species about 6 years ago and I am at my wits end trying to contain them at this point. Bamboo, Chinese Yam, cham...
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Invasives are choking my yard #874885
Asked June 26, 2024, 9:21 PM EDT
We inherited a yard full of invasive species about 6 years ago and I am at my wits end trying to contain them at this point. Bamboo, Chinese Yam, chameleon plant, porcelain berry, ajuja, English Ivy, weird grapevines, we've got it all and I'm sure more. I have kept them in check through manual extraction, but it is a constant losing battle. It feels like if I go a single week in summer without dedicating hours to removal, I come home to an entire fence line of vines.
I'm not sure what kind of professional to contact to assist with control or what the options for control might be (Wide spread pesticide use? Digging up the entire yard? Burning the whole thing to the ground?)
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear of your battle, it can be very frustrating to deal with a high number of aggressive invasive, but it's not a battle that can't be won!
Our recommendation would be to cut back as much as you can, to lessen the amount of vegetation that needs to be treated, then spot treat the remaining leaf material with the appropriate systemic broad-spectrum herbicide. Painting on an herbicide concentrate (undiluted) to a freshly cut stump/vine will have good results as well. You will likely have to repeat this process but don't give up! It's a worthy battle for sure.
Remember to follow the label directions on the herbicide bottle and wear the appropriate protective clothing. Feel free to reach back out if you have any additional questions or concerns. Good luck!
Our recommendation would be to cut back as much as you can, to lessen the amount of vegetation that needs to be treated, then spot treat the remaining leaf material with the appropriate systemic broad-spectrum herbicide. Painting on an herbicide concentrate (undiluted) to a freshly cut stump/vine will have good results as well. You will likely have to repeat this process but don't give up! It's a worthy battle for sure.
Remember to follow the label directions on the herbicide bottle and wear the appropriate protective clothing. Feel free to reach back out if you have any additional questions or concerns. Good luck!
