Looking for an interim solution?

19 years ago

Greetings!

I posted this on the woodlands forum too.

Any advise is welcome. I need a temporary solution for my "back 40". I want to get it back to woodlands eventually but it takes time. I need a strategy that will give me the upperhand on these weeds and vines. Well, excluding Napalm.

Once this whole area was covered in English Ivy, Blue Morning Glory, Honey Suckle, Potato Vine, Bamboo, Choke Cherries, Camphor Trees and Pop Corn Trees. Oh, and Chinese Wisteria. Well, I should also mention the $*@^!*% Privet.

I've busted my derriere every spring and summer for the past 5 years whacking it back off the native trees and shrubs and planting some more natives too. I discovered a few Southern Magnolia, Live Oak, White Cedar, and others beneath the vines. I've planted a few Buckeyes, Native Azalea, Service Berry, Maple, Long Leaf Pine, Big Leaf Magnolia, native ferns and other sundry regional plants. All are doing quite well so far but only because I'm ever vigilant in ripping those ^(@*!(#& vines off every time I turn around! Sadly, the vines and weeds have more stamina than me and most of my natives are still quite young and vulnerable.

While I don't have every foul sort of tree removed yet, every year I make great progress. Progress that I seem to lose to some degree at the end of each summer.

What can I possibly plant (clover? grass seed?) that will deter the fresh weeds from taking over again? As I'm sure you've guessed by now, every weed I iradicate gets replaced by another species. The power vacuum must be filled! This year is seems to be some sort of hitch hiker bur. Whatever it is, I hope for something that I will not regret later as my trees grow and shrubs grow and make blessed leaf litter.

THANKS!

Clare

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Comments (5)

PeaBee4
19 years ago
Most of that stuff comes back from itty bitty pieces of root and it is soooo hard to get every little piece. I think that your best best is to paint the leaves of the plants with something like Ortho's Bush-B-Gon. It is taken down into the root and kills it. Some things like the honeysuckle will take time as you have to keep treating the new sprouts. Do it when they are young. Don't let them get a head start.
PB
clarenancy
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi PB!

I've been using Brush-b-Gone and similar products by the gallon. It still doesn't prevent some other opportunist from fill the void. And it really doesn't get every thing. I've got a Hudson sprayer that I spray while my husband runs around covering the native shrubs.

Brush b gone has little or no effect on the smilax or dewberry over the long term.

I think I've talked my husband into tilling it all under, but that still means we'll have to plant something in there or some undesireable will still take over.

Clarenancy
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nandina
19 years ago
Over the years I have helped many customers regain control of large, overgrown land parcels. Do not till the land! Big mistake. The bottom line is that until the trees grow and cast deep shade it is necessary to brush cut the land three times during the growing season. More often, if you wish. A brush cutter will turn that land into a a park with minimal effort. Google "walk behind brush cutters" for an idea of what is available and easiest to use for your situation. The brush cutter will chew up into fine mulch everything it passes over. It's good for the land. Also, when removing vines on trees, cut the vine 12" above the ground and then paint the freshly cut stump with full strength brush killer. If it starts to sprout again, make a new cut in the trunk and repaint with brush killer.
clarenancy
Original Author
19 years ago
Hey Nandina!
Thanks for the advice. It's encouraging.

I saw a brush cutter last fall in the rental department of Home Depot and wondered how they worked. But I'd forgotten about seeing them until you mentioned it.

I do paint the stumps and vines for the most part. I must admit that some of the vines are more difficult to paint than others. And, of course, some are tougher than others.

I'm going to get my hubby to research this brush cutter. I'm sure it's not easy to handle but it can't be harder than what we've been doing.

Clarenancy
gurley157fs
19 years ago
Ditto on Nandina's advice. I've done it as well and after cleaning up the ground trash I was actually able to mow with a riding mower. Never mind what I was mowing was just weeds - they were just the tender shoots and keeping it mowed short allowed some grasses to take over.