Marianne's Response

Unwanted seedlings

My boyfriend has these 2 bushes that he planted in the backyard over 20 years ago and he has absolutely no idea what they are. They grow very quickly from the end of spring through the summer. I have a feeling he may have trimmed it when they were beginning to bud. This is the first year I have these little bush seedlings popping up everywhere. They are growing into the landscape fabric and you can’t even pull them out. They have to be cut out individually through the fabric. I cannot control them. I cut the majority of them out but within 2 weeks I have more growing up through the mulch I just put down 2 weeks ago. I am at my wits end. Is there an easy way to get rid of them without killing off everything else.

Posted by Linda Ritthaler on May 5, 2020

Marianne's Response

I am not sure what these volunteers are but the do look like some type of shrub with a woody stem so the cut and cut again method may be the most practical approach. Cut them close to the ground with scissors or a  string trimmer on a sunny day. They will come back. Cut again, then again. The plan is to starve out the roots by keeping the tops cut back. Eventually you will starve out the roots. Your other option is to take a sample to a nursery and find out what type of shrub this is and what type of herbicide spray would work to control it. Invasive plants are a real problem especially in small gardens but with persistence they can be controlled. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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