DFB's Greenthumb Project

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Weeds!

One of my customers was telling me how she and her sister thought it a great game to smuggle plant stock into the country when they had not long arrived (30 years ago). Absolutely no respect for biosecurity. I struggle to control some of their precious “private imports” and would gladly turn them to ash.

It continues to this day, I know a guy who considers himself a rare cacti enthusiast who happens to sell at weekend markets. He thinks nothing of ordering plant segments from OS via the mail.

[DFB FGXR6]

Is there a more insufferable weed than English Ivy? I think not, especially after injuring my back trying to pull a large infestation from a fence/gate/garden shed/hedge.

Actually, looking into this, most of that people know of English Ivy (Hedera helix) is actually Irish Ivy (Hedera hibernica).

https://weeds.org.au/profiles/english-ivy/
https://www.walterreeves.com/landsca...dentification/

“Irish Ivy is normally larger than English Ivy, in both its leaves and petioles. The Irish ivy leaf is wider than long, with a broad terminal lobe and the leaves are shiny with greenish, not white veins. Also English ivy has a musty odor, while Irish ivy’s is sweet-ish."





The seeds are highly attractive to birds, helping it spread far and wide. But the ability to take root from any piece of the plant is its hallmark for survival. And because of that extensive root development, it's extremely hard to control, be that chemically or mechanically. I've seen Ivy drink glyphosate as if it were fertilizer. I have heard of using dousing it with kerosene, but that would contaminate the surrounding soil.