Ever since we moved here a couple years ago my yard has been slowly and steadily being invaded by weed trees, vines, and poison ivy.
Last year I took the hedge trimmer and went ballistic which worked as a temporary solution but this year it’s back in full force. After cutting this stuff all grows back in like a month. It’s insane.
I want it gone as it grows so thick is takes up yard space, because it’s so thick it’s a perfect haven for mosquitos, and a lot of this brush is actually poison ivy so it’s just all around terrible.
Does anyone know of a viable solution to try to get this to a point where it’s manageable? I’ve tried thinking on it myself and came up with a few ideas
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Short term: Hire someone to cut it back -> I don’t have tools powerful enough to make a big dent in this at this point and I don’t have the garbage bin capacity to hold it all. This could work imo but doesn’t fix the problem of it growing back
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Short/long term: Herbicide -> wanted to avoid this route as I generally care for the environment and I live in a well field district so I don’t want to try and mess up the environment by spraying a shit load of herbicide. It’s a last resort for me
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Long term : New Fence -> in my head a new fence would keep the ivy from growing into my yard (a lot of it comes from the neighbor) and would make it easier to manage since it’s a solid surface vs my current chain link fence
ANY other options are much appreciated. This is our first home and I generally enjoy doing yard work but this is insane. And it’s defeating seeing all of my work undone so quickly lol
Thanks in advance!!!
by pysl
25 Comments
Is there any landscapers that offer goat mowing by you?
Is the red house/shed yours? Seems like there’s a short fence there and that’s causing all your issues. Realistically you would probably have to lift up the fence to chop out those roots. The shrubs are hiding the weeds and if you don’t get stuff out by the roots it’s just going to come back stronger.
You need to cut it all out by the roots and then for any tender new growth that comes back especially vines and ivy, spray with 30% vinegar solution until it dies.
INFO: Can’t edit post for some reason. Brown house is mine, red house is neighbor (and Air BNB that is vacant almost all of the time. They have a person mow grass and that’s it. I’ve never seen the owner.)
Step 1 buy goat
Step 2 buy tire and rope
Step 3 tie goat to tire and move tire close to bushes
Step 4 untie goat when he is done and give him treats and head scratches
Vegetation killer spray
Generally, if you have the option renting a goat would be the best environmental option. Granted they will eat everything so take that into consideration as well.
I would cut the vines back the best you can and then spray with triclopyr every few months.
Short/long term: Herbicide – I use this mix for kill all on gravel.
a mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap can kill poison ivy by burning its leaves and drying out the plant, though it requires multiple applications and careful targeting to be effective. To make the spray, mix one cup of white vinegar, 1/4 cup of salt, and one ounce of dish soap in a spray bottle, shake well, and then spray the leaves and crowns of the plants, aiming to soak the roots for best results. Be cautious, as the salt can affect the surrounding soil and kill nearby desired plants
Ugh that sucks! You have a few options.
– pull it all out by the roots and be vigilant
– cut it back (or not) and spray with herbicide, be vigilant
– cut it back (or not) and tarp it (smother it)
I think you will need to trespass onto the neighbors as well if you want to eradicate it all
Ortho Ground Clear
Wait until you see how muddy it gets when you get rid of it :O but what do i know
Your only options are manual removal or herbicide. Tbats just standard of owning a home. Pull weeds at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes each time. If you use herbicides properly you’ll be fine. You’re not cauing anymore damage than the farmers are
Put some round up on it, then forget it. The round up needs to travel through the plant to the roots, it kills from the root up . Give it plenty of time , it will kill it .
How badly do you want to be a goat owner?
Goats!
Brush killer. Your regular weed killer will do nothing to Ivy.
The native clematis is nice
repeat applications of triclopyr, then replant next year
The absent owner wouldn’t know or care if you just went ahead and took care of the roots from their property.
I would think that once it’s all cut down that regular mowing and trimming would prevent anything from getting taller than a couple inches, with the exception of what is on the other side of the fence. I understand the red house isn’t yours, but I’d still take it upon myself to keep trimmed down with each mowing if I were in your place.
Try some high concentration vinegar. 30% sprayed on repeatedly should help keep it at bay
Tordon will do the trick I betchya.
Whack it all down than rip the remaining plant out and spray the dirt with the weed killer, if it’s poison ivy than wrap yourself up tight
Commit one day. Protect yourself fully. Could mean respirator. Grab an angle grinder and a bunch of cutoff wheels. Cut the bottom four inches of the chain link fence so you can weed eat beneath. You can rent the tool if you don’t have it or hire the task out to some brave soul who needs 100$
The answer is always goats