skip to main content

The weed that doesn't die

9 years ago

We have this weed in our flowerbed that refuses to die completely. They grow up to 18in or 2ft if left alone and their root system seems to go on forever, getting thicker down below. Multiple plants can be attached to one root. The only plants I have found similar are a Canada thistle, or prickly lettuce. These weeds don't flower.

I feel I have tried everything. Roundup, brush killer, weed + grass killer, bleach, vinegar, salt, GAS, etc. I can get the weeds to shrivel up and after daily treatments for a week they will die, but two days later they are back! Even more so, there is no preventative measure I have found

I've also tilled the ground 4 times this year and consistently hand weed. This isn't working. 2-3 days later I get 10-20 weeds per 2 * 2 ft area. This flowerbed is about 600sq ft.

Yesterday, I tried boiling water and POOF they turned black and shriveled up instantly in a small area. However, I couldn't imagine how I could gather THAT many pots of boiling water to cover the area all at once.

Completely destroying the area is not possible, I have a really expensive japanese maple looking bush thats worth a few thousand in the flower bed that I'm afraid I'll kill along with a tree. On top of that someone recently (last week) planted perennials all over the flowerbed after my last till. With the amount of chemicals I've already spread over the soil the perennials look like they're already going to die anyways, but I don't want to kill off the tree or the bush. I just need these weeds gone, I've never seen anything like it. They'll tear through plastic covering, newspaper, etc. There has to be something that will kill them at the root.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Acehigh0111
Original Author
9 years ago
Here's another picture of one fully grown under shade. Their leaves are kind of prickly. They won't really draw blood buy you should wear gloves when dealing with them. Not something I would squeeze in my hand, but it's not too bad.
IanW Zone 5 Ont. Can.
9 years ago
These thistles have a strong, deep root system that spreads out by "runner" roots....
My suggestion is to dig, dig, dig.......the only way to get rid of them......
Related Discussions
B&S 4.0 surges,doesn't die .
Q
Comments (1)
Diaphragm kit
...See More
I don't remember planting it but doesn't look like a weed . . .
Q
Comments (11)
I concur with Snapdragon. Have you looked closely? It appears to me to be one bushy plant regrowing from the base of last year's plant rather than a clump of seedlings. They would hardly be on the point of flowering in zone 5 (which they are) if they had only germinated this spring. The plant's dead foliage and last years seed pods are clearly visible in the photo.
...See More
Rope Hoya won't grow, doesn't die (growth is preferred!)
Q
Comments (6)
It does sound like it's now overpotted. I have mine in the same size pot bought from HD and when I bought it, it had been trimmed to just reach the bottom of the pot and had a number of plants stuffed in the same pot. I dumped it out to add some cactus and succulent soil and the thing was pretty much rootbound (ie., the whole thing came out in one big knotted mass), so I just added some C&S soil at the bottom and around the sides as best I could and watered it in. I then gave it some bonemeal (which had been a recommendation here some time ago, although I don't know if it is anymore). That first year with it in similar light exposure (NE, where there is no direct sun in winter, although it is bright but where it does get direct sun in summer), some of the stems grew almost 1ft more. After the 2nd year, it added almost another 1 ft to some of the stems. It does get the backwash of light from my HD 500W worklights that shine on the other tropicals and subtropicals that I overwinter. Plus this past summer, I had it outside and it seemed to like that. I too am waiting for mine to bloom one day as my HD lacunosa seems to love to bloom. I've given it a variety of fertilizers ranging from bonemeal sprinkled on the soil, to Peter's 20-20-20 and occassionally some liquid Ironite (suitably diluted). I'll also give it some Epsom salts diluted in water 1 tbsp/gallon. It's cute to look back on when I first bought this plant and see what it looks like now: Here it was in June 2002 when I first bought it: And then hung it up by the window: Here it was a year later in June 2003: And then a year after that outside in June 2004: Here it is today inside: Sometimes I wonder if these are like some other plants I have that are "social" - ie., they enjoy being with others and I have certainly given mine some company (the lacunosa and an incurvula - both of which would crawl all over the rope...lol). Of course bunching plants together also keeps the humidity up around them all too. ;-)
...See More
Weed doesn't look like a "Weed". What is it? (White Lilly-ish flower)
Q
Comments (8)
if you could just give it 6 inches of no mowing ... for a month or two ... you could dig out the bulb and move it to a garden bed ... on such.. you need to let the plant restore energy.. before it goes dormant ... if you dig it now.. maybe you win.. maybe you dont ... but looking at that perfect green carpet .. i doubt you want to let it naturalize.. as flora suggests ... what surprises me.. with your perfect lawn .. is that it seems immune to excessive fert.. and presumably weed agents ... go figure.. tough little bugger ... if you want it moved... take a butcher knife ... cut a cross .. pull back the sod.. so you can dig out the bulb ... go place it in a garden bed ... and reset the sod ... and bobs your uncle ... ken
...See More
Kimmsr
9 years ago
Thistles are difficult to control, as you have seen. The most effective method I have found is to keep all above ground growth cut to deprive the roots of any nutrients so they eventually die. Repeat spraying with herbicides, by those not too concerned about the harm they do to our environment or the expense, is also an option.
nandina
9 years ago
One of my favorite books, now passed on to a horticultural library, concerned farming in MA during the Civil War. Several pages are devoted to eradicating this thistle which always has been a costly, troublesome weed. The 'solution' then was to mow grasslands in the fall to a height of about 6" which left the hollow centers of each thistle exposed to the winter elements which killed the plant. Based on this writing and years of experimenting when living in Yankee land, I dealt with the thistle by cutting each stalk back to about 3" in height during active late spring growth and placing 2 drops of clorox into the exposed hollow stem. Clorox keeps on working and will slowly kill the extensive root system. Patience! Hand pull the weed near your prized tree as even a single drop of clorox is effective for quite a radius around a treated plant.

And, if the decision is made to use no chemicals then remove each thistle, cutting below soil surface. Repeat until root system dies off. Try using a linoleum knife as a "down on the knees" weeding tool. Most effective weed controller I have in my gardening tool kit.
donna_in_sask
9 years ago
I have a notched dandelion digger that gets most of the taproot of thistles...never let them bloom and keep digging them out and you should get the upper hand.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
I'm pretty sure that is Cirsium arvense, aka Canada Thistle. It's called Creeping Thistle here on account of its spreading roots. I imagine it hasn't flowered because it is under constant attack. I think you will just have to bite the bullet and face up to a lot of very thorough digging.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Meet a Houseplant That Doesn't Mind Neglect

By creative jewish mom.com

Got better things to do than remember to water your houseplants on schedule? Schefflera will forgive and forget

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Decor That Doesn't Scream 'Halloween'

By Elza B. Design, Inc.

Subtly moody art and accessories can work well around the home for October 31 festivities and long after

GARDENING GUIDES What’s in a Name? See 6 Wildflowers That Aren’t ‘Weeds’ at All

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Dispel the stereotypes of weeds and try these wildlife-supporting native wildflowers in your garden

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Weed-Smothering Ground Covers

Let these landscape plants do the dirty work of choking out weeds while you sit back and enjoy the view

EDIBLE GARDENS Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden

By Abundant City

Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Bugle Weed, a Quick Ground Cover

It’s highly adaptable, suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and provide weeks of bright flowers. Just watch for invasiveness

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Ways to Naturally Win the Weed War

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Show irksome weeds no mercy with these tricks for combating them sans chemicals

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: From Overgrown Weeds to Picturesque Farmhouse Expanse

By Mitchell Parker

This once-neglected 100-acre South Carolina site now features a lake, a wood-filled farmhouse and a far-reaching view

GARDENING GUIDES Let's Weed Out 4 Native Plant Myths

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Plant wisely for a garden that supports pollinators and requires less work

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Blue Fescue

By Annie Thornton

Is there anywhere this grass doesn't look great? Bonus: It outlasts other grasses in color and doesn't hog water

Sponsored

More Discussions

What is this plant?

1

Is it time to apply Preen to lawn in Baltimore?

1