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Old 12-01-2012, 02:09 AM
Terry Deans Terry Deans is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jun 2009
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Layman[_2_] View Post
On 06/01/2012 18:42, Terry Deans wrote:
Anyone got any tried and tested methods to rid an area off these plants
and corms please? All around tree and shrub/hedging too. Lovely orange
flowers but now just a jungle and invasive. My idea was to do the 'just
dig them all out' method. Can there be any other way? Prob not. Just
wanna be sure they don't return cos I know how persistent these wee
fellas can be!! Thanks anybody.


Although it looks attractive, crocosmia is an invasive weed once it gets
going. It spreads by its corms underground and by the cormlets above
ground There are some cultivars which are better behaved, I am led to
believe (but I am staying clear of crocosmia!).

You cannot dig them out. The corms break up underground and you may end
up with an even worse problem (muscari are similar)! Spray the plants
with glyphosate at the recommended strength. Wait two weeks and spray
them again. After another week they should be showing signs of
yellowing. If any aren't, spray them again. Whenever new green growth
appears respray. After 6 months or so you should be free of the plants,
but there may be some hangers on, so treat these as soon as you see
them. Once the glyphosate has done its thing, there is no need to dig
what's left out.

--

Jeff
Thanks Jeff,

Great answer. I knew it would be a challenge.I know from experience that they are stubborn survivors if you want to clear them. A friend wants me to clear them out of a shrub and tree/hedged border in order to refresh with new plants.

It's a area totaling about 70m2. I was a little fearful of the poisoning approach due to the proximity of the other remaining shrubs etc.They may just have to come out too, and temporarily re-located, to make the 'killing' effective as the crocosmia are growing in and amongst them.

Could be a long term project if they are serious and determined enough to go through with it. So i'll suggest Plan B now!

regards

Terry