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That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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Posted by jancol04 QLD Aust (My Page) on Sun, Sep 11, 05 at 6:13
Hello all
I have this vibrant green fern which multiples without any help in my front garden, it gets the occasional red berry and little white fluffy flowers at times but trying to get it out is a problem. I think someone told me it was a form of asparagus fern. It is a cruel invader and the prickles are very sharp. I have tried getting right down to the roots and it seems impossible to dig out, another one just pops up in it's place. It looks quite nice, green and healthy but it certainly isn't gardener- friendly. I have tried round up but it doesn't want to leave. Any suggestions?. Jan |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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| The only way to be rid of this is to dig it up and be sure to get the "crown" (The growing point where the leaves join onto the white tuberous undergrond roots) and be vigilant in removing any small seedlings which will continue to appear for a very long time all around your garden. Roundup with a very tiny amount of detergent only seems to set it back, not kill it outright. |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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| It is shocking stuff isn't it??!! I still haven't got rid of mine and I keep digging and throwing out all the tuberous root bits and it just keeps coming back....I guess being relentless with chopping and make sure you wear gloves!!~ |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 12, 05 at 0:03
| Persistance is the answer. I had this horrible thing in my rockery. An area of 7m by 2m was absolutely covered by it. I cut it to the ground and whatever grew back I sprayed with roundup. Some smaller plants (obviously seedlings) I dug up wherever the rocks permitted. It took about a year to get rid off but I succeded. It was about 5 years ago and has not come back. |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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The NSW Bushcare groups hate the stuff. It's very invasive. I remember my Nan growing it in hanging baskets many, many years ago.
Real aspargus is so much nicer, and you get to eat it too. |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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| I have it and have the same problem. Why they attribute "sparrow's guts" to the common name I don't know. I'm going to dig it out when I get a chance. It's fugly. But I've observed it serves a purpose in my domestic yard surrounded by cats. The blue-tongue lizzies call it home in summer. Love me blue tongues. Saw the first one y'day. A big mamma that has bubs in my backyard every year. Lizzies like her deserve preservation, I reckon :) |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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| I've only had a little of it, but found that persistent applications of Roundup helps - mix it a bit stronger than recommended. |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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Thanks everyone. Guess what I'll be doing this weekend???
Jan |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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The problem is the birds keep planting it for you. The mongrel stuff grows wild along the side of the road in amongst the Lantana. I have had no trouble using Roundup at the standard rate of 10ml per litre. Just make sure you thoroughly wet the entire plant.
Be careful about using household detergents as wetting agents, you could be neutralising the Roundup. There are specific wetting agents available that don't affect the herbicide being used. Doug. |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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| Hi there Jan and all the other gardeners having had experience with asparagus plumosis. Did you all get rid of that invasive plant? The garden of my daughter is full of it, it spreads via long running roots, it suffocates any plant on which it finds support, my skin it torn and cut by these sharp ...thorns (?). I am trying to get rid of that stuff by cutting it down and pulling up the roots. Bags and bags full of it. when does it end? I have no idea how it got into this garden. Took me quite some time to find out its name. Although it did not grow in Europe, back in the fifties I hated that stuff already, when the florist insistently added one or two sprigs to a bunch of flowers, such as roses or carnations. They have no idea what it means to have that stuff in the garden! |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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I did I kept digging it up and spraying the new growth with Glyphosate it took about two years.
Now I am fighting and winning with that Fishbone fern Nephrolepis cordiflora another horrible Environmental Weed even though its a Native here. |
RE: That horrible spiky asparagus fern
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| Yes I too am battling this persistant little invader. Not had any success with Roundup but will mix the next batch a little stronger. Digging it up and pulling smaller outbreaks by hand (with gloves) is the method I am currently employing, but I have some major stands still to tackle and am a little daunted by the prospect. Thanks for the posts it is good to know I'm not the only one dealing with this little blighter. |
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