Hmmm....that was weird....I was all ready to launch this thread a few minutes ago, but my browser kept timing out.
Anyway, I got the last of the pampas down today....YEAH! This has been an on and off battle for the last 2 months and there were days when I thought the pampas was going to win this war. I feel like I have just won the Olympic gold medal for tug of war and I'm celebrating with a margarita....any one care to join me? ;-)
I toppled the last of the Pampas today!
Well at the moment it is in chunks of roots in the side yard. Just hoping to be rid of it before it reroots itself LOL
what is a pampas?
it is a grass in the bamboo family
http://davesgarden.com/pdb/go/1291/index.html
I have seen that here, never knew what it was, Thank You, I am fed up with invasive plants at this point.
Yep me too Dyson. I've been fighting vinca and morning glories for years and I'm just treading water in those battles.
Interesting isn't it, how we try to fight the things that want to grow and struggle with those that don't! In England I struggled to grow Morning Glory and Vinca and lost my glorious Pampas Grass when the dogs used it as a merry go round and here you are throwing them out. One man's weed is anothers rare plant!
Well location certainly plays a major roll. Plants that may post ecological threats in one area are not necessarily so in another. And I have to admit I tend to use the term "invasive" a little more broacly than the legal definition to include nuisance plants that may not be environmentally harmful per se, but they do choke out other vegetation due to their growing habits.
Morning glories in Texas grow mostly by the spread of seeds either by wind or birds. They will also set new roots where ever they touch the ground. Being a vine they will attach themselves to anything and often wind themselves very tightly around their hosts, literally choking them to death.
Vinca behaves in much the same way although by most it is categorized as a ground cover rather than a vine. It's runners can grow to indefinites lengths and will grow both horizontally and vertically. The are completely indescriminate as to what they attach themselves to and they will set runner roots into other vegetation, mortar between bricks, etc. that can be damaging either structurally or by exposing other vegetation on which it hosts to disease and parasites.
Pampas grass is more in the nuisance category although it's speed of light growth can literally overshadow or take of the space of most nearby vegetation and thus killing it. It also has razor sharp leaves that can leave multiple very painful cuts (almost like paper cuts) from just casually brushing by it.
I read an interesting article in my newspaper a few months back. I don't recall where this took place other than it was somewhere in Texas. It seems that pampas has been planted extensively by the builder in a new subdivision. No sooner had the subdivision been completed, than the dreaded HOA was established and as part of their initial set of covanants, pampas grass was outlawed because of the danger of injury to residents, children, and pets.. So every new home owner had to remove the pampas that the builder had so carelessly planted. I tell ya sometimes they just get ya coming and going!
My main concern here is "tree of heaven" been trying to eradicate for two years. This year the electric company sprayed them for me (w/out telling me) and I think they are dead, will not know untill spring if they are going to come back. The power company sprayed them because of the threat to the power lines, and I am glad they did. Though, I wish they had been more carefull in application, they nailed a large portion of lawn.
ouch....sumac is a major invasive! Too bad about the lawn but that will grow out I'm sure. If they really manage to kill the trees completely I think it would be worth it.
I think so also I have even run over the things w/the blazer the tied a rope on and tried to get the roots out ... too no avail, i'm gonna work on the roots as possible (digging) and hopefully will be rid of them. If I am rid of them I don't mind the lawn soo much. (wanted to a couple of raised beds there anyways).
I don't envy you digging those roots up. Do that with my pampas was bad enough. How big were these suckers?
About 15-20 ft. many trunks from the same root system - a pain to "get hold of". And scratched any vehicle entering the driveways (one driveway two enterances). Then I cut. Then I pulled. Then I ran over. Then I pulled. Then the power company sprayed. (did I leave the Then I mowed part?)
Well look at it this way: Since unplanting is so much harder than planting, it makes the rest of gardening that much more enjoyable (wondering if anybody will buy that?)....anyway...that's my story and I'm stickin to it LOL
be my guest Donna! email me and let me know when you would like to come by.