I hate killing living things but I have mulberry bushes that are taking over my yard. I tried pruning them back, but every spring I have 3 new bushes sprouting up. I want to remove them without hurting the other plant life in my yard. Is this possible? I have some that are sprouting up close to my house and risk damaging my foundation. I need help they are out of control :)
2006-09-11 15:26:20 · 7 answers · asked by aerofrce1 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
You are experiencing why it is so hard to kill mulberry bushes--they keep sending up new plants from underground rhizomes. You're going to have to cut the main plant down to the ground and if there is a stump six inches or wider you should get some stump remover (one is pretty effective that uses kerosene with it) or get someone with a stump grinder and grind it out. Grinding is quicker but more expensive.
Next cut all the shoots down to the ground. Don't spray them with weed killer because that could damage the lawn. Then keep mowing over that area once a week even if the grass does not need cutting to make sure you cut off any new shoots while they are still young. With mulberries you'll probably have to cut shoots for an entire growing season. They have an extensive root system which stores a lot of food. As long as those roots contain any food they will keep sending up shoots, but each time they do it uses up some of that stored energy. Once the stored energy is gone the roots will die and that will be the end of your problem.
One extra note: a few years after they die you may notice lots of mushrooms or other types of fungi growing in your lawn where the dead roots were. Don't worry about them. They are decomposition fungi finishing off the final remains of the bush. When the mulberry is completely gone the fungi will disappear too.
2006-09-11 15:59:36 · answer #1 · answered by college kid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mulberries can be a real nuisance! We cut them down close to the soil, then paint the exposed stump with weed killer like Round Up or another topical herbicide of your choice. This is the about only case where I really advocate the use of these chemicals. Digging is great, if you can get all the serious root, but that's not possible to do in some cases.
2006-09-12 02:44:42 · answer #2 · answered by bellgoebel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try using Round-up..That is pretty strong stuff...I used it on ivy..
2006-09-11 19:28:27 · answer #3 · answered by Nancy S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Raise silkworms. They'll be gone in no time and nature will take care of it so no need to feel bad. ;)
2006-09-11 15:39:56 · answer #4 · answered by anonfuture 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
pour pickle juice on them
2006-09-11 15:29:34 · answer #5 · answered by rainsparrow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dig them out
2006-09-11 15:28:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
have a monkey chase a weasel?? :)
http://www.backyardgardener.com/forums/forum14/982.html
this link may help
?
2006-09-11 15:31:32 · answer #7 · answered by dazee052 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋