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Old 19-05-2008, 07:55 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Mary Fisher Mary Fisher is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,441
Default Anywhere else been invaded by sycamore pods?


"Bob H" wrote in message
...
I can only assume it is due to the long winter and winds we had that my
gardens etc were absolutely covered in the dammed pods. I swept/cleaned up
most of what I could see at the time, but now, several months on, they are
sprouting up everywhere....in my borders, in between cracks in concrete, in
between paving slabs, in gravel, and anywhere else I missed. I have been
constantly picking out the seedlings evertime I go outside when I see them
sprouting.
Is there any quick kill for these seedlings or do I just have to carry on
picking out? Also has anywhere else had a similar problem either now or in
the past?



We've had them here for forty four years.

You're doing the right thing by picking them out, it's what we've always
done when we see them. It's better if you don't leave them until they have
several characteristic leaves because they are harder to pull out then.

Ash is a worse problem. We felled our ash tree several years ago and
seedlings still appear and are the devil to get out when they're a few
inches high. Horse chestnut seedlings are also difficult when they're older.

These three are very common trees - simply because they're successful. I
doubt that Man will ever overcome them. If he does, I hope I'm not around.

I suppose you could use chemicals for a quick kill but they're not such a
problem really. If you can see them you pull them. If you can't see them how
do you know where to kill them?

Search and Destroy is only acceptable for barbers :-) Pity it's not
suitable for some humans ... people are worse than trees.

Mary