Ivy and Brambles
Question:
We have just brought a cottage in France and I need some advice re planting. We have a bank at the side on the cottage which has fairly good soil on where Ivy and Brambles have been going for many years. The Ivy root was about 5" in round. We have got all the Ivy and Brambles cut to ground level and have black plastic over them at the moment. We are looking for a rapid growing plant that will smother all the roots and have flowers on in the summer and foliage in the winter. Please help - an impatient gardener.
Answer:
Ivy and brambles are very difficult to eradicate but there are two ways you can deal with them, one a lot easier than the other! The easiest way of dealing with them is to let the plants grow a little and apply weedkiller containing glyphosate. I've done a bit of research and found the following weedkillers which sound good. I don't know if they sell them in France but there should be an equivalent: Weedol 2 - An economical weedkiller that can be used all round the garden except on lawns, unless you want to kill them. Weedol doesn't harm the soil so planting can be carried out immediately after treatment. Young green suckers of roses, lilac and plums can also be killed without harming the rootstock. Effective at any time of the year, Weedol is rainproof in 10 minutes. Contains diquat. Keep away from children and pets. 12 sachet carton treats 204m? Roundup Weedkiller - will completely kill all weeds and roots. Children and pets don't need to be excluded from treated areas as it is biodegradable and starts to break down as soon as it touches the soil. It contains the chemical glyphosate and includes measuring cap for easy measuring. Do not use on lawns or other wanted plants as it will kill everything plant it touches. 280ml treats 280m? Here are a few general rules to bear in mind when using weedkiller: ? Read the manufacturer's instructions to be sure you are using the right weedkiller for the job. ? Keep weedkiller off plants that you want to keep. ? Dissolve/dilute the weedkiller according to instructions on the packaging and apply weeds using a fine rose (sprinkler head) on a watering can which you only use for weedkiller. ? Don't apply on a windy day because weedkillers can drift onto other plants. ? The most effective time to apply weedkillers is when weeds are leafy and growing actively, mid-spring to early summer is ideal. ? Keep weedkillers in a safe place, out of reach from children and pets. When empty, dispose of them carefully. Not all weeds will die so repeat applications may be needed. If you don't fancy the thought of using weedkiller you can dig over the whole area and remove the plants and roots by hand. Don't be tempted to use a rotavator because this will chop up and spread the roots far and wide from which the plants will re-grow. There are two plants which may be suitable for you. Firstly there is the Cotoneaster which spreads to 2 metres quite quickly and is extremely robust. Click on the name to see more information on Crocus. Secondly there is the Greater Periwinkle. This plant only spreads to 75cm but is very fast growing and has lovely lilac/blue flowers for most of the summer. Again click on the name for more details. When planting a large area it can be quite costly but there are several companies who sell plants in bulk for just such a situation. They tend to be smaller than those you buy at a garden centre but they are a lot cheaper. I have found one website which has a whole section on ground cover plants at very good prices, take a look here for more ideas http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Ground_Cover_Plants_16.html. I have never used this company so can't offer any guarantees as to quality or service. Whatever plants you end up buying, can I suggest that you prepare the site very well before planting. Once the plants have died down leave for a couple of weeks to allow any annual weed seeds to germinate then pull these up. Before planting, water the area well and cover with a weed suppressing membrane. Cut crosses in the fabric and plant through the holes. This will keep the weeds down whilst the plants are being established.
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