I've got some sort of low growing holly that is driving me nuts -- popping up in my garden beds and also spreading out into the lawn. Nasty stuff!! It spreads from under the soil with roots that have little nodules on them.
Do I have to dig every blessed one of them up? Or is there another technique or some sort of herbicide that will get rid of it without killing everything else?
Any ideas?
LiseP
holly weed
From your description, it is probably a yaupon of some sort,
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/ilexvomitoria.htm
It can be and is very aggressive. Because of its extensive root system, any herbicide you use will only knock it down for a short time. If you want it out now, you'll have to dig it all up. If you do decide to apply an herbicide, be aware it will take multiple applications, ho[pefully, weakening the root system more with each application until it doesn't send up any more shoots. You can spray with RoundUp, but you risk damaging wanted plants with the spray drift. Try the cut and paint method. Cut the stem about an inch or rwo above the ground and immediately paint the fresh cut with full strength Brush-Be-Gone or something similar. Don't wait until you've cut all the stems before painting on the herbicide. If you wait, the cut will have been sealed off and the herbicide won't work. Recut and paint new growth. It may take years to completely kill the root system.
I have an experiment going with RoundUp and a couple of small mesquites. The RoundUp will knock them down for slightly more than 2 years, but at the end of that time, they start to emerge again. I resprayed last year and by the looks of the area, you'd never know they are still there.
Bettydee, my apologies for not answering. Sometimes these things just get away from me. But no, it's not what you suggested. I should have taken a photo.
BUT -- I have solved the mystery of this "weed" and it turns out, it's not a weed at all. It's actually part of my live oak tree, caused by an elevated soil line -- created by a garden bed the previous owners made -- and boy, have I got a mess to deal with. The stuff is running clear out into my lawn as well as all through the bed.
Here's the exact stuff (scroll down to the picture and its explanation). Yep, that's the stuff only mine looks even worse than the picture. Sigh. I hardly know where to begin...
http://www.thetreetender.com/Mulch.htm
LiseP
The Texas Forest Service has an office in San Antonio. One of the programs they have is an Urban Forestry program. They would be the best contact for advice on how to proceed. They won't do the job for you or tell you who to call should you need a certified arborist because university policy forbids it, but they will tell you what needs to be done to get rid of all that growth. It is possible they might have a list of certified arborists available. You will probably have to get rid of all the soil the previous owners had brought in. That root flare has to be exposed and the soil level taken down to it's original height. Click on Bexar County in this link for the TFS contact information. I don't envy you the task.
http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?ctrl=10
Thanks so much. I am bummed about this but at least I know what it is now. I will definitely call the Urban Forestry person and see what they say. Hiring a professional anything was/is not in our budget, so I'll be looking at what hubby and I can do ourselves. I'll keep folks posted, if anyone is interested.
Thanks again, bettydee.
LiseP