the roots is more like horse radish.. IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OUT.. and to dig out.. check out the link and if any piece is left in the ground.. IT WILL BE BACK ... not unlike godzilla ... i use 41% straight round up generic ... and i simply put it in a mustard bottle.. and drip it from a leaf.. and let it run down the plant ... gravity rules ... an eyedropper would work.. something that will allow you to drop DROPS ... maybe you will need a quarter teaspoon ... weed and brush killer would probably also work ... in my heat and drought.. it too a week for a 5 footer to eventually collapse.. but i am pretty sure the root from hell will not return .... [plants go dormant to some extent in heat and drought.. so it takes longer for a systemic to take effect] i am sorry .... but this is one nightmare that requires the hardcore stuff ... not a hope and a wish and some organic remedy .. unless you are willing to dig a 2 to 3 foot hole to dig it out ... and i will bet it will still come back ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

Oh sweetie, I feel terrible for you. I know I'd be devestated if a neighbor hurt my hydrageas. Have you tried watering them really well? It might help to get some of the poison out. I wouldn't over water, it might do more damage. I would also try to trim off the leaves that look like hey have damage maybe that will prevent any lingering weed killer from going into the plant and hope for the best, although from what I read in your post this happened weeks ago so it migh just direct energy into new growth. Hopefully someone else here might be able to help. Keep us posted.

Wow, a topiary oakleaf. I'd love to see that! I think it will be OK as long as it's still supported and the structural integrity hasn't been compromised. Heck I've got bushes with screws in 'em! Plants make every effort to heal...and they're pretty good at it. Good Luck!

I know that the weeds will not be gone forever. That would be a dream come true! :) I have already hand pulled a lot of the weeds out a few weeks ago, and am now in the process of pulling the roots out since the smaller stuff is now growing large. Since the house was built at least seven years ago and no one lived in it until four years ago, the grass in that area has been allowed to grow crazy and native. I wish that we would have started by removing the top layers of ground cover and start fresh! Lesson learned for next time! I plan on doing this massive root removal until the whole area is done and then try to pull stuff as it appears, but no less than once a month. I just wanted to make sure that what I was doing was on the right track for a mistake in the first place. LOL I haven't seen any of the weeds go to seed this season yet. I think y'all are correct about having perennial weeds! I know there is poison something in there (most likely sumac) as I learned another lesson the hard way- wear gloves! I know we do not have the weeds that stick upright with the four strands of seeds at the top (I call them helicopter weeds since they looks like the blades in motion). I have seen what appear to be violets, some type of itty bitty yellow flower (about the size of my pinky fingernail), and something that has long thin seeds that are on needle thin plants. The weed I hate most in our yard is the ones that look like it is in the cactus family. It is spiky, low to the ground, and produces a white/yellow flowerish mass. I have tried Round-up and digging it out with the shovel. The root is thick, white, and extends down really far. Any idea on how to best remove them? Thanks for your tips though!!!! I will make sure to not weed once a year and to get an earlier start on it next year.