When we first plant horseradish in our garden, we do not even think about how everything can turn. At first, it's just a plant that allows its roots to add spice and peppercorns to dishes. But over time, everything changes dramatically, and a small bush becomes a dangerous invader that drives out other cultivated plants and does not want to share space with them. How to get rid of horseradish in the garden forever is our article.
Why is it difficult to remove horseradish on the site
Horseradish is a strong enough opponent that not everyone can handle. This is because it has a powerful root system, does not require special conditions for development and is difficult to influence, including chemical. But the most dangerous thing is the length of its roots, which can reach seven meters. And if you destroyed only the upper part of them, the remnants of the system can further spread throughout the site, growing into a powerful and large bush.
How to get rid of horseradish in the garden forever
There are many techniques to get rid of a given plant or limit the range of its distribution. Gardeners first advise using sparing folk remedies and recipes. When the option does not work, you need to switch to heavy artillery - chemicals. But remember that these drugs can harm not only the pest, but also all living things that are on the land.
Blackout
Blackout is considered by many gardeners to be the most effective method of dealing with horseradish. This procedure is carried out with the arrival of spring, when the first shoots of plants are just beginning to appear. The essence of the method is to cover the place of plant growth with some kind of darkening material. For this, a sheet of slate, a dark film, roofing felt, or just a sheet of metal may be suitable. The main thing is that the material or object completely excludes the light from entering the land. Thanks to this, horseradish, like any other plant, will disappear without light. Therefore, you will get rid of it without using harmful chemicals.
This shading procedure is recommended to be performed once a season. If the next year it starts showing again, repeat the method. It is really effective, just the root system could be strong.
Application of chemical methods
The best option to remove the occupier in the garden area is considered to be special chemicals called herbicides. They are classified into:
- continuous-action preparations that destroy all vegetation without exception;
- selective substances that differ in their effect on a certain type of plant.
The first option is considered more efficient. But you need to be extremely careful with him, otherwise there will be a risk of removing all the "living" on the site. Let's take a look at the most popular chemicals:
- Tornado - a product that penetrates the leaves and spreads directly to the root system, killing the pest permanently.
- Hurricane differs in systemic action. The drug is advised to use after plant emergence. But it will take effect only a few days after it gets on the vegetation.
- Roundup unlike other substances - a very effective, but safe for plants. Because it doesn't affect the root. That is why, immediately after its application, it is necessary to plant other cultivated plants.
It takes a little patience to get a positive result with herbicides. Prepare a syringe and a thin needle in advance. After cutting the leaves and opening access to the root, make many holes in it. Then draw the undiluted preparation into the syringe and inject it as deep as possible into the rhizome. It is recommended to repeat this procedure again after a couple of days. This is because the branching of the roots now becomes an obstacle, and even a small living piece of it can lead to a new growth.
You can also use saltpeter by constantly watering the bush. This will ensure regular stimulation of plant growth. As a result, it will not have time to prepare for winter and freeze.
Planting other crops
Practice shows that it is extremely difficult to fight a pest by planting other crops.... To do this, it is recommended that after using hetricites and digging up the beds, plant everything with zucchini or pumpkin. But this does not give a complete guarantee that the remnants of the root system will not germinate in the future, surpassing the zucchini themselves in size and height.
You can make a lawn on the land to prevent the germination of horseradish with the arrival of spring. Combinations of herbs with fencing of beds, for example, with wooden walls or barrels, have shown themselves well.
Gardeners do not recommend the neighborhood with potatoes. The cultivated plant will initially slow down its growth. But in the future it will serve as a fertilizer. To remove horseradish forever, it is recommended to simultaneously use several methods of struggle.
Prevention of overgrowth
If you want a horseradish bush to grow in your garden, do everything possible so that it does not become a conqueror. To do this, it is recommended to insert sheets of tin or iron around it as deeply as possible, which will not allow the roots to spread.
When it is only supposed to plant a culture, it is worth being ahead of the curve. To do this, first a barrel or box is dug into the ground, and horseradish roots are planted into it. This will protect the surrounding cultures from the annoying conqueror.
To get rid of horseradish, or rather its distribution over the land, it is important to act in an integrated manner. This means using several control techniques at the same time. Practice shows that the conqueror does not give up so easily, and it would seem that after difficulties in the fall, small surviving roots come to life again in the spring. And gardeners face the same problem. In order not to complicate your life, it is best to take care of limiting the space even at the stage of planting it. It will be much easier this way.