| A reader asks how to kill Ivy climbing up a
much-admired street tree in the general vicinity of their house, but not in front of it.
Either way I guess you have to enter into a dialogue with your local Council. After all it
is their liability, which is why you need permission to plant a verge in front of your own
property. Now if the Ivy were on your own property,
then at this time of the year when the plant is in a state of growth, cut the wood stems
close to the ground and while the cuts are still green and wet, daub with the prescribed
mix of triclopyr, which is an S6 toxin, so use disposable rubber gloves. The advised
mixture is one part of the liquid to six parts of kerosene and paint it on with sponge or
small brush. Triclopyr is sold to home gardeners as Axit®, Blackberry Killer, Tree Killer
etc.
Do not spill any of the triclopyr on the soil as it leaves
a residue and do not burn any of the painted Ivy or any other woody plant or tree you aim
to use it on. Sorry to have to inform keen gardeners how to kill trees but lots of readers
want to know!
Aphids have gone ballistic on the "common milk
thistle" this week, which highlights one of the reasons we aim to control weeds so
vigilantly in our gardens. Thistles also harbour other diseases that over-winter on them
and then rapidly infest your spring vegetables. Pull them out or chip them off.
Still plenty of time to plant bulbs of most sorts and there
are still abundant supplies of good forms in most stores. Also sow Sweet pea seeds. Lime
the soil first (one of the few crops that we do that to in this area), then spread
complete ‘D’ and sow, but do not water in, or they may rot off.
All this week the Friends of the Botanic Gardens of
Adelaide have a big garden book sale at their North Lodge Book shop in the gardens, with
15-50% off while stocks last. Check the range on their web site, www.fbga.asn.au
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