Zebra Grass

12 years ago

I am getting ready to remove some plants out of my main bed ( a large kidney-shaped island bed) that are scraggly and have been damaged by deer, rabbits and hoppers, when the heat allows me to stay outside long enough to sink sharp-shooter into soil. One of these plants is Zebra Grass, a big mistake in my planting scheme. Now, we ALL know this is not an easy task. It is now about a 3' clump and Uuuuugggggly! If I cut it back and spray with a grass killer, will it even affect this tough plant? Should I try something stronger, say brush or stump killer? Would any of these chemicals leech into the soil and also destroy surrounding desirable plants? Can't remember, but how long must I leave the sprayed area fallow before replanting? I REALLY want to rid myself of this stupid Boo-Boo!

Jeanie

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Comments (3)

redding
12 years ago
Jeanie, what about using Ultra-Kill Weed and Grass Killer? 25% glypsophate. It's safe to use in flower beds and does not leach into other things. You just obviously need to be really careful that the spray does not hit anything else. It does not specifically list zebra grass, but the list is very long and says 'and many others'. It's safe to replant 24 hours after the plant has been removed.

(I have to relate what happened to my daughter and a huge formal garden of azaleas. Her husband got some commercial grade blackberry killer and then sprayed those big azaleas with it!! His reasoning was that it would only kill blackberries. It was a disaster!!! Luckily he did not spray the red threadleaf Japanese maple also. He might have been living in the doghouse. As it was, it was touch-and-go for a while.)

How are you doing with the biting gnats?? I've been thinking of you and wondering how you're faring.

Pat
Pallida
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Pat
Called son and his common sense answer was to soak and wait, the reason being, chemical, or no, the roots would still have to be removed. Yuk! Afraid of that.
Gnats still out there. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but they don't seen to be as bad as they were. Of course, I am not spending much time outside, either. Here's hoping we have a good, cold Winter to kill off the gnats, hoppers, mites, etc.

Jeanie
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redding
12 years ago
Jeanie, my experience with the biting black gnats is that they have a short season. Totally miserable while it lasts, but it's luckily brief. Not like mosquitoes or something like that. It's been a long time since I had to deal with the problem, but it seems that they only last about 6 weeks or so. I have no idea what causes them, unless they come into any damp or irrigated area during a hot and dry summer season. I hope they don't decide they like OK weather!!

I've obviously used the Ultra-Kill, since I had a bottle of it sitting here for when I really need to get serious about some sort of noxious growth. I always read the labels to make sure there is no soil leaching going on with a product. It's bad enough to have to use chemical controls, but using one that will spread or sterilize the soil? No thanks!!

Pat