Morning Light: The Fetchland Gardening Wire

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Columba Sep 2021 9:31pm, 14 Sep 2021 21,292 posts	0 Columba Anyone here had experience of getting rid of a buddleia bush? Youngest Son had a branch of a buddleia grow through the wall from the garden next door to his. He asked the next door neighbour (in whose garden the bush was growing) to remove the branch before it damaged the wall any further. She cut down the whole bush, but told him (YS) that there were roots on his property which he would need to get rid of. He is unwilling to do this as it would mean taking up paving stones, if not demolishing the wall. If he does nothing, will the roots die? I suspect not, as buddleia is extremely resilient. The whole situation is complicated by the fact that YS is at present in Denmark, with his house (in Bristol) let to tenants. This, however, does not affect the behaviour of buddleia bushes.
sallykate Sep 2021 9:48pm, 14 Sep 2021 8,244 posts	0 sallykate Painting glyphosate on to the exposed wood of the stump might help - my neighbour used to have something which she painted on to the stumps of stubborn unwanted shrubs and I think it was glyphosate. I need to get rid of a couple of small shrubs, including buddleia, which are growing in walls. Repeated cutting isn't doing the job.
Hanneke Sep 2021 10:41pm, 14 Sep 2021 79,575 posts	0 Hanneke Yes, glyohosate will do it, or buy stump killer and paint that on.
jacdaw Sep 2021 10:57pm, 14 Sep 2021 3,365 posts	0 jacdaw Stump killer will also be the thoroughly evil glyphosate. Just thicker. Keep cutting it down. It can't live forever.
Hanneke Sep 2021 8:36am, 15 Sep 2021 79,577 posts	0 Hanneke It will... Unless you use glyphosate... Paint it on with an old paint brush, drill holes in the stump and dribble some in the holes. I kill willow and poplar like that, where a stump grinder doesn't...
MarkyMarkMark (3M) Sep 2021 8:43am, 15 Sep 2021 16,124 posts	0 MarkyMarkMark (3M) Most deciduous tree & shrub roots are good for a couple of seasons attempted growth after you take the main plant off above ground level. Buddleia, willow, and surprisingly, cherry are among the most persistent, I've found! Yep, glyphosate ought to do the trick, it seems to kill pretty much anything. I'd get them to water the gaps between the paving stones with it too on general principles!
Hanneke Sep 2021 8:44am, 15 Sep 2021 79,580 posts	0 Hanneke Bird cherry is the worst, blackthorn is pretty persistent too!
Angus Clydesdale Sep 2021 9:53am, 15 Sep 2021 23,215 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale At least blackthorn is good for sloes, and making sticks.
jacdaw Sep 2021 10:39am, 15 Sep 2021 3,367 posts	0 jacdaw And bird cherry has the best smelling blossom of any native.
Hanneke Sep 2021 10:48am, 15 Sep 2021 79,593 posts	0 Hanneke I am letting both run rampant in the food forest, which has resulted in hairstreaks, the ones with orange under the wings that look like meadow browns until they flash the orange. Well chuffed! It is the rampaging blackthorn. No shortage of sloes and I totally love the blossom. Can you make wands from blackthorn? Expelliamus!