Gardeners, I need help identifying

[sweet angel]

These things are ALL over my property. For the past 6 years, I've just pulled them out under the assumption they are weeds. However, this year I decided to see what happens if I let them grow. They are about 7' or 8' tall, and the stalks are about an inch in diameter on the bigger parts. It's kind of coming in handy -- hides all the crap in my neighbor's yard!

The people who lived here before me must have gotten gardening catalogs and ordered EVERYTHING, but nothing was maintained. For 6 years, I've been pulling stuff out and getting rid of it.

By the way, there's also grapevine everywhere (even in the pics!). If anyone can tell me how to get rid of that, I'd be forever grateful. I've tried vegetation killer, bleach, weed killer...

Anyone have any ideas what these things are?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think the tall one is a sort of Joe Pye Weed, that's what I've always called it, but it does come in different forms. I'm glad you can use it as a screen.

I know that the wild grapevine is very hard to pull out, it's been a great year for weeds to grow! Watch out for purple flowers on a vine, that's nightshade, and it's very poisonous. I try to keep ahead of nightshade and poison ivy.

Bobbi

 

[sweet angel]

Nope, I just googled Joe Pye Weed and that's not it.

I've been fighting the grapevine since I first moved in. The problem is, I'm not finding the ORIGINAL spot -- just the offshoots. I dig them out wherever I can find them.

Thanks for giving me your best answer though!

 

[sweet angel]

anyone else?

 

[vanyel]

I have some of the same stuff that I've been pulling out and it keeps coming back - no help but some empathy.

I also have some other unidentified weeds that I can't get rid. Last year I fought it, lately it's just been growing.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

That's pokeweed. Gets everywhere. Deep taproot. Pull it out if you can, with gloves. Check out this link...http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant40.htm ...you don't want it growing in your yard. Also, looks like some nightshade in the last pic. I hate to use the stuff, but I'm not seeing anything you'd want to keep in any of those pics, so you might try some brush and vegetation killer.

 

[sweet angel]

That's pokeweed. Gets everywhere. Deep taproot. Pull it out if you can, with gloves. Check out this link...http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant40.htm ...you don't want it growing in your yard. Also, looks like some nightshade in the last pic. I hate to use the stuff, but I'm not seeing anything you'd want to keep in any of those pics, so you might try some brush and vegetation killer.

Thanks. All of those pics are the same section of yard -- maybe 4'x5' and 2 years ago I sprayed vegetation killer all along there.

I'm a little hesitant though because I have a weeping willow (?) tree in REALLY close proximity and I'd hate to kill that. Also I have a flower bed about 6' or 8' in front of that area.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

It may be re-seeding from another area, or seeds were waiting to germinate. Spray again (being careful to avoid the roots of the willow, and taking care not to spray on a windy day when drift may occur), and lay down a pre-emergent weed control meant for lawns...that might keep the seeds from germinating. Alternatively, you can try solarization (a good idea if you are very close to plants you don't want to harm). Get some clear plastic and lay it over the areas you want to de-weed. Stake it down. Leave it there until you get all the vegetation under the plastic good and crispy. You'll probably need to whack down the vegetation in order to place the plastic. In this hot weather, it may only take a week or two to clear the weeds. Lay down some mulch in the area, don't turn the soil (it will expose hidden seeds to sunlight, causing them to germinate, and there you go again). If more weeds appear through the mulch, solarize again for a longer time.

 

[sweet angel]

Interesting...thanks. I'll try that. I had read about putting wet newspapers over the grapevine, as well.