Gardeners, I need help identifying

[sweet angel]

DISCLAIMER: I TRIED THIS ON THE GARDENING BOARD, WITHOUT LUCK.

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?

 

[FroggyinArk]

yup i am fairlly certain i know,

 

[shrubber]

Fallopia Japonica

 

[FroggyinArk]

i guess you wanna know too huh..lol..
its pokeweed

http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/phyt_ame.cfm

 

[pperfectmom]

That is what is commonly called Poke Sallet in Ky. If you've ever heard the blues song Poke Sallet Annie, that's it. It can be eaten like a green when small, but the berries are toxic unless you happen to be a bird. I think it is a cool looking plant, but most view it as a weed.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Poke Plant is what we call it. Berries are toxic, if you have kids or pets you need to eradicate it.

 

[sweet angel]

Wow...quick replies! Thanks everyone. I guess I'll be pulling them out this week -- although the ones in the front really do cover up the view of my neighbor's front yard, so maybe I'll leave them!

Now, any ideas how to get rid of grapevine?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Do not leave them. They will multiply and cover your yard next year, plus kill your grass.

If you want a cover, plant something else.

 

[sweet angel]

I don't want a cover. I don't want vines.

I'm considering pulling up as much as I can and tilling the yard....

 

[binny]

I had something like that it was growing in my front flower bed not exactly but it was really pretty with these gorgeous purple/blue flowers and my friend came over and said " Ackkk get me your gloves right now, this thing is going to kill everything!"

LOL




What do I know? I thought it was pretty but apparently its on the list that the State keeps that says " if you find this weed kill it immediately!" LOL

I didnt plant it, it was just there along with the million and half other plants that I inherited when I bought this house.

 

[sweet angel]

Binny, I think I have some of the "gorgeous purple/blue flowers" stuff too. Swell!

 

[binny]

if you want to post a pic Ill tell you if its the same thing, mine went out in the last trash so I cant post a pic.

 

[bananiem]

Be careful with tilling. We did it one year and THEN I read that tilling weeds just cuts up the roots so they can make MORE plants.
I never found a good way to get rid of our grapevine at the old house. Sorry.

 

[binny]

that is very true about the tilling. I tilled my garden in the back and they are back in full force if not worse.

 

[sweet angel]

What am I supposed to do then? Just keep pulling? I even sprayed vegetation killer on a huge area and the crap keeps coming back!

 

[FroggyinArk]

go to ocal nursery and ask them what you can spray on grapevine in your area, around here, we use deisel. but ta 3 bucks a gallon we dont spray much of it,,lol,, we have been know to let grape vines get aboutt 3/4 inch around and tie it to the truck,, pull it up by the roots

digging it out is about the best way to erradicate it,


btw,, yes i have eaten poke salet.. its not bad, but you have to cook it right or else even the leaves are poisonous

 

[Nancy]

I had horrendous ground cover when I bought my house, not even a landscaper would pull it out! What I did was pour Roundup on it full strength and after that worked a bit I went out in the yard and dug up every little tuber I could find. It was a whole summers worth of work! I still get the occasional plant sprouting up even 18 years later but now I just zap and pull it real quick.

 

[sweet angel]

Froggy, I did go to one nursery and ask and their response was, "You want to REMOVE it? Why???? Well...uh....I guess you could try vegetation killer." I can't pull it out by truck because (a) much is in the backyard and I can't get the truck thru the gate, (b) can't find the ORIGINAL spot -- just the offshoots, (c) many of the offshoots are intertwined with my fence. I have pulled out forsythia with my truck though!

I wonder if I actually made things worse. One year I dug up as much as I could but where the roots went under the fence I just chopped them. I guess maybe that gave me twice as much.

I have to be careful what I use though, since I have pets.

Nancy, I did that with my pachysandra. I think I may have finally won!