mousjoos
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A two-pipe problem, Watson...Please does anyone know how to eradicate ferns; indeed is it possible?
I have a large area of ground that backs onto my garden, which has been untouched for at least the last 10 years. The owner lives in Montpellier & has been approached by the Mairie several times to clean his land.... still nothing. The problem is that all the ferns, brambles & general crap find their way into my garden & I've being trying to stop them for the last 7 years with little success.
Strimming does a little for a while, but I need something a little longer term. I'm not keen on the chemical approach, but am beginning to consider napalm or agent orange as being worth a go.
Answers on a postcard
Pipe two.
I have an olive tree/bush. Long story, but I ran a "dead" olive stick over with the mower & the thing is now 8 feet tall with 3 stems.... my question to the panel is.... should I cut 2 of the stems away & leave just a main stem to continue? or leave it & prune it hard/soft delete as appropriate?
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Northern_Lad
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1: Pigs.
2: Whichever looks best.
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mousjoos
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| Northern_Lad wrote: | 1: Pigs.
2: Whichever looks best. |
Ahhh pigs... I'd like pigs, but the wife has enough trouble with the dog, so pink, grunty things would be a non-starter.
As for what looks best... I'm no judge, also I dont want reduce this years crop of 3 olives any further if it can be avoided
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cab
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Is it all sort of rooty/rhizomy (botany part of brain is dead today, what is the correct name for that part of a fern?)? If it is, then you've got a hell of a problem. Seriously, all you can do is hack 'em out bit by bit, or cover probably for years with black plastic.
I think I'd explore a chemical option if thats the case.
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vegplot
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Keep cutting them back before the spawn they will give up eventually but it's will take a long time.
Place add in local paper for free ferns, fork provided.
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mousjoos
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Isnt there a particular time of the year that chemicals should be applied for max effect? I've been told it's best "just before christmas" quote/unquote but I know nothing about this so if hack I must, then hack I will
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judith
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The timing will possibly depend on the chemical applied, but for the glyphosate ones the right time is about now - just when they are growing most vigorously.
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cab
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| judith wrote: | | The timing will possibly depend on the chemical applied, but for the glyphosate ones the right time is about now - just when they are growing most vigorously. |
Is that the right time for ferns? Intuitively I'd have thought near the end of the season would be right for glyphosate, to get more taken down into the roots when they're saving energy for winter. Dunno though.
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mousjoos
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Roundup type of thing? or is there an industrial strength one that I've missed?
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mousjoos
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| cab wrote: | | judith wrote: | | The timing will possibly depend on the chemical applied, but for the glyphosate ones the right time is about now - just when they are growing most vigorously. |
Is that the right time for ferns? Intuitively I'd have thought near the end of the season would be right for glyphosate, to get more taken down into the roots when they're saving energy for winter. Dunno though. |
that must be what bloke meant by "just before christmas". what I find confusing is the way they work with new moon & the like. it really all seems to come down to "it must be done on this day or your chance is lost"
I did try roundup to get rid of some very thick grass around the veg patch but even that seems to have become a rather girly affair now with a brightly coloured pistol attached to the bottle & no pressure..... frankly I can pee harder
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Simon
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Our french neighbour uses Roundup for the small weeds but says it won't touch brambles. He told me of another one he uses on them, the name of which I forget. I suspect it might be what you need for the ferns too. I will try to catch him and find out the name.
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cab
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If you're going to use glyphosate (or the branded version 'roundup) then do it properly. Don't mess around with those silly little pump action spray bottles, buy a concentrated solution and get hold of a little pressure sprayer. Not expensive and far, far more efficient. Wear protective gear and make sure you get the wind direction right, do it on a cloudy day when it isn't likely to rain or do it late on in the evening just before it gets dark (sunlight is not the friend of glyphosate).
Or, if you're trying to kill everything, use it diluted in a watering can. Or for specific weeds mix in with some washing up liquid and water and paint it on.
But don't go for half measures, you want to use it as little as possible and as safely as possible.
Is glyphosate the right tool for this job? Is it good on ferns?
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TheGrange
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not very friendly but i find creosote poured onto the crown or the cut back stump kills most plants, regardless.
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