Horsetails and Alders

Just purchased some ground next to ours, which has its share of horsetails and alder, both of which I would like to eliminate.

I have read the thread on horsetails - so we will live with them :(

I have cut the alders only to find they send up new shoots by the dozen.
Any good ideas of ridding myself of the alders would be greatly appreciated.

When ever I am trying to get rid of invasive root species I rototill the area and take a fork and lift any runners out then I oversew the area with a poppy or other easy to eliminate cover for the year. Then I walk the area every week looking for that root to start shooting up and fork out the entire root piece. This usually ends in a year or so.

We hook a chain to the back of the truck and around the alder trunk and pull it out with the truck. That way we get a lot of roots with it rather than just cutting it off. They are very easy to pull out this way when they're young.

Gwen

Call the guy who owns the property in back of me - he clear cut all the alders two years ago, leaving the most gawdawful ugly messes ever (it was almost all alders and the "backdrop" to my gardens. I turned 60 that year and gave myself a birthday party - invited all my lady friends, cousins, etc., to lunch and, dressed in long dresses and big hats, we scattered wildflower seeds in much of the nearest parts. I named it Murmur Meadows (my grandma name is Murmur, given to me by my now 18.5 year old granddaughter) and the party was the ultimate success. Unfortunately, the nettles, thistle, horsetail, weedy grass, etc. outdid most of the wildflowers, although if I get courageous enough to walk through some of it I do find some bravely blooming flowers here and there. Also, many of the pinwheels I had used to mark sowing spots can still be found. It doesn't look quite as bad as it did when first cut, but those awful brush piles (some as high as 30 feet or so) are still there and will be for a long time to come. We thought he would burn them, but found out it is not a requirement and would have cost him money for permits, fire department help, etc. He did leave me a small grove of alders so that I don't have to look at the mess from my front room. I had put signs on some of those trees: #1 "please " #2 "leave" #3 "these trees" #4 "for the birds" #5 "and me." It worked - he actually left them!! Of course, be careful what you wish for - if they'd been taken down, I'd have a clear view of Mt. Baker!!! LOL - but I do appreciate the fact that he left them. I've never met the man, but word has it he is one grouch so I feel fortunate.

Carole

Many people are not happy. Always thank your creator that you have joy in you life.