Content
It is quite difficult to remove horseradish from the garden forever, but it is quite possible. To do this, all rhizomes need to be dug up and removed. It is also recommended to cover the seedlings with dense material in early spring so that they die due to lack of sunlight.
Why is it growing?
Horseradish is an unpretentious perennial crop that has a powerful root. It goes deep, so the plant feels normal even in drought. The root system also grows in width, capturing more and more space.
Horseradish grows on different types of soil, including depleted soil. Even if you do not monitor the plant, the rhizome grows well. Large leaves, peduncles and seeds appear. If this is allowed, they will spread literally throughout the entire area, which will only worsen the problem.
Why do you need to clean?
If horseradish has grown in a garden plot, it must be destroyed. This is due to the fact that the plant is extremely aggressive.Even in 2-3 seasons it will take up a significant part of the space and go to the neighboring plot.
The rhizomes of the plant are very powerful and can withstand even the most unfavorable weather. If growth is not stopped in time, the crop will easily turn into a weed, which will be difficult to eradicate.
Why is it difficult to remove horseradish from the garden?
It is often impossible to remove horseradish from the garden forever, since the crop is unpretentious. Horseradish grows well in different types of soil and has a developed root system. The roots are powerful, they grow deep and spread well - up to 7 meters. While destroying the upper part is quite easy, getting to the lower part is not always possible.
The roots tolerate frost and temperature changes well. They can withstand cold temperatures down to -45 degrees and spring frosts down to -10 °C. That is why the weed grows well not only in the middle zone, but also in Siberia. Also, the rhizomes of adult plants are resistant to various chemicals. To destroy them, it is recommended to use only the most powerful systemic agents.
How to destroy horseradish in the garden forever
There are several proven ways to get rid of horseradish thickets in the garden. The most difficult, but at the same time effective option is to dig up all the roots. You can also treat with special preparations or use folk remedies. The main methods are described below.
Digging up rhizomes
One of the effective methods of controlling horseradish in the garden is to uproot the rhizome. To effectively destroy the weed, it is recommended to dig it up in early spring, when it has not yet begun to grow.In spring, the soil is still quite loose, so carrying out gardening work is not as difficult as, for example, in the summer.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Clear the area of leaves and other debris.
- Dig a hole around the bush.
- Pull the greens.
- If the plant does not take root, dig some more.
- Next, pull the greens again and pull out the root.
- Destroy it, burn it or chop it up with a shovel.
- Check the hole again, carefully inspecting it. If remnants of rhizomes are found, they will also need to be destroyed to prevent them from growing.
This method is really effective, but it is very labor intensive. To get to each root, you will have to dig up a large volume of soil. There is a possibility that part of the root system will remain in the ground and produce new layers. Finally, it will not be possible to destroy the weed by digging if there are other crops growing in the garden bed - then they will be damaged.
The described method allows you to remove horseradish from the garden in the fall. But by this time the rhizomes will be very powerful, so it will be more difficult to dig them up. Although such roots can be used to prepare various preparations and drinks, for example, horseradish.
Darkening the plant
You can also remove horseradish from the garden using darkening. This method works well in early spring, when the first shoots are just beginning to appear. To destroy them and prevent them from growing, it is recommended to install a darkening material, which can be used as:
- dark film;
- slate;
- roofing felt;
- metal.
To completely darken the material, install it tightly to the surface, blocking access to light. It is this procedure that will destroy horseradish plantings.
Replacement by perennial crops
You can fight horseradish in your summer cottage using such a standard method of agricultural technology as crowding out other perennials. Experienced gardeners claim that this measure does not give good results, which is why they rarely use it.
To completely destroy the weed, it is recommended to proceed as follows:
- First, completely dig up the area and remove as much of the horseradish roots as possible by hand.
- Treat the soil with herbicides.
- After a few months, plant other crops, such as zucchini or pumpkins. You can also use green manure, including rye. It quickly takes up space and enriches the soil with valuable nitrogen compounds.
- You can also plant a lawn, which will decorate the empty area well and allow it to be used in landscape design.
Herbicide use
You can get rid of horseradish in the country with the help of special preparations. This is also one of the most effective methods, which allows you to completely destroy various weeds. Among herbicides, you can choose one of two classes:
- Universal action preparations that destroy most weeds. They give very good results, but after using them, the soil must be allowed to rest, and then a bacterial fertilizer, for example Nitragin or Phosphobacterin, must be applied.
- Selective herbicides. They make it possible to destroy only specific groups of weeds.
To get rid of horseradish, you can use the following drugs:
- "Tornado" is a systemic herbicide that penetrates through the leaves and spreads to the roots. This makes it possible to completely destroy the plant.
- “Hurricane” is another systemic drug that is best used in early spring, after the first shoots appear.
- Roundup is a very effective herbicide that can kill horseradish. It is safe for other cultivated plants. Therefore, after treatment, you can immediately plant perennials.
The drugs are used strictly according to the instructions, observing the dosage. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Get the finished solution.
- They draw it into a syringe.
- Inject into the horseradish rhizome as deeply as possible.
- After two days, the procedure is repeated.
Application of organics
Organic matter will help you eradicate horseradish from the garden forever. When diluted, infusions of mullein or bird droppings are excellent fertilizers. But in concentrated form, these are dangerous mixtures that literally burn out weeds and other plants. To destroy horseradish in the garden, it is recommended to proceed as follows:
- Prepare an infusion of dung or mullein by pouring a small amount of water.
- Without diluting, water the plantings.
- If necessary, repeat the procedure after a few days.
The method is effective only if there is no source of water nearby and there is no rain. Otherwise, the infusion will be diluted and not as effective. You can also dig fresh, unrotted manure next to the rhizomes. It will give an even greater effect, thanks to which horseradish can be quickly destroyed.
How to remove horseradish from a plot using folk remedies
It is possible to eradicate horseradish from the garden forever using folk remedies. To do this, you can use simple and proven recipes, for example, treating the area with ordinary table salt.
It is necessary to sprinkle the soil around the horseradish plantings, taking several large handfuls. Due to this, the acidity of the soil decreases, and the crop gradually dies. The method does not give quick results, so the procedure is repeated several times a season. Moreover, it will not work to use salt in an area where other crops grow - otherwise they too may die.
Another way to kill the weed is to sprinkle the soil with potassium salt. It is necessary to cut off the green mass and dig it up so that the horseradish rhizomes become visible. After this, sprinkle the powder directly on them to quickly destroy unwanted plants.
Horseradish can also be removed by dousing the plantings with boiling water. The method is quite effective, but for reliability it is better to repeat the procedure several times with an interval of 2-3 days.
You can also kill the weed with ammonium nitrate. In this case, proceed as follows:
- Take pruning shears and sharpen the blades.
- Rub ammonium nitrate powder into them.
- They dig up horseradish.
- Make a cut at the rhizome.
Prevention of overgrowth
Getting rid of horseradish roots in the garden is not always easy, so it is very important to take precautions to prevent the spread of the crop in the area.
The main measures are:
- Select a separate place for planting the plant. The culture is unpretentious, so seedlings can be placed even along the fence and in abandoned areas, preferably away from the main vegetable garden or flower garden.
- Planting horseradish in barrels, boxes, old bathtubs or other separate containers is one of the best methods of prevention.
- You can also plant the plant in open ground, but then the root system must be fenced off in advance with a wooden, metal shield or slate. The pieces are dug in to a depth of 50 cm, enclosing the rhizome on all sides.
Advice from gardeners
Destroying horseradish is not always easy, but on the other hand, it is a completely useful plant that many summer residents want to grow. Therefore, in order to prevent it from growing and turning into a weed, it is recommended to act as follows:
- Before planting a new plant, take a wooden box and treat it with an anti-rotting compound. Dig into the soil so that only the edges remain on the surface. Plant the horseradish in the soil, separated by a box.
- If the plant has already been planted, its rhizomes are dug up and separated with a sheet of dense material, such as iron or slate.
- After planting horseradish, carefully monitor it and do not let it grow. In the early stages, it is quite easy to destroy excess plants. But as soon as they produce powerful rhizomes (after 3-4 years), this will be much more difficult to do.
Conclusion
Removing horseradish from the garden forever is quite simple at the first stage. You can simply dig up the rhizomes and treat the soil with a herbicide just in case. In the future, it is important to monitor the appearance of new shoots and suppress them immediately, without waiting for them to grow.
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