Any Kudzu in your area?

**ProEye** · 02-10-2007, 01:58 AM

I'm sure many of you are wondering what Kudzu is. Go the SE states and you'll know exactly what I mean. It's an incredibly fast growing vine that has taken over large sections of this country. It's like an alien invasion!

http://www.alabamatv.org/kudzu/

**Wyoming53** · 02-10-2007, 02:06 AM

I did a project down in Charleston, South Carolina and it was bad down there. It was growing up and choking off trees. The trees were dieing. I also did a project in Norfolk VA and it was there also, but not quite at bad. Around homes and such, the people were keeping it trimmed back to save their trees but it was a weekly cut-a-thon to keep it down. I also was in Tampa Florida for a while. There was nothing there but I often visited a friend up in Old Town and it was starting to infest their area.

Now, having said that, I'm certain it is what you are talking about. But I never heard it refered to as what you mention.

**the dufferz** · 02-10-2007, 02:21 AM

Pro,

Is this a plant that was imported or is it natural to the area?

What are they doing about it? I assume that it has an aggressive root structure somewhat like blackberries? (that's our problem in western washington).

**MyAzi** · 02-10-2007, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Pro,

Is this a plant that was imported or is it natural to the area?

What are they doing about it? I assume that it has an aggressive root structure somewhat like blackberries? (that's our problem in western washington).

Blackberries a problem??? I love going for a walk and picking them right off the vine.. I just don't pick the ones down low because I once saw a dog pee on one of the bushes!!!

The vines of the Kudzu are really pretty but like Ivy... hard to control!

**the dufferz** · 02-10-2007, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyAzi

Blackberries a problem??? I love going for a walk and picking them right off the vine.. I just don't pick the ones down low because I once saw a dog pee on one of the bushes!!!

The vines of the Kudzu are really pretty but like Ivy... hard to control!

Yeah, blackberries.

The fruit is great, but there are vines that don't bare fruit, that like to grow in my back yard and take over everything. Grrrr.

**T.S.** · 02-10-2007, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Pro,

Is this a plant that was imported or is it natural to the area?

It was brought over from Japan long ago. It was originally ornimental, then people were encouraged to plant it to prevent soil erosion. Now it is known as the vine that ate the south.

It covers everything here around Charlotte. It covers entire forests, it covers the ditches, it even covers the telephone poles and street signs in some places.

**isabel** · 02-10-2007, 10:30 AM

We don't have this plant in our area, that I know of. But in our water ways and streams we do have a problem with a type of water plant. Clogs the water ways and floats on the surface. I believe it was also imported. Can't remember the name of it right now.

Does anyone from California know the name of the plant I'm talking about. One of my clients has it in her pond. She has to put a chemical in the pond to get it to die off, a couple of times a year, and it always grows back. It really makes it tough for boaters on the delta.

Izzy

Curious George · 02-10-2007, 12:42 PM

Eurasian milfoil is a problem in lakes up hear. it can grow to a thick matt 15’ thick an reduces sunlight an Chokes out other plants that fish need for food it can make a real mess in waterways. boaters up hear are required to inspect there boat an trailers when ever they pull out of a lake or river. on some spots on the st croix the dnr inspects boats an trailers before they enter the river.

**T.S.** · 02-10-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious George

Eurasian milfoil is a problem in lakes up hear. it can grow to a thick matt 15’ thick an reduces sunlight an Chokes out other plants that fish need for food it can make a real mess in waterways. boaters up hear are required to inspect there boat an trailers when ever they pull out of a lake or river. on some spots on the st croix the dnr inspects boats an trailers before they enter the river.

Eurasian Milfoil really sucks. I grew up around Lake Minnetonka and it was found there in the late 80's. It really took over some parts of the lake in the following years, and is still really bad there. They use milfoil harvesting boats to try to keep it under control, but it seems to grow faster than they can pull it out.

Curious George · 02-10-2007, 01:45 PM

From what I read it is in about 120 lakes originally they figure it came from people dumping fish bowls in some lake by product of the aquarium trade with Europe
It likes clear water an under 20 ‘ deep what a mess . did you hear about the guy that
Went through the ice on his sled no Minnetonka a few weeks back some local about 50
One of the channels on the west side apparently he’s not to bright thin ice an channels
= problems bet he won’t make that mistake again

Curious George · 02-10-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.S.

It was brought over from Japan long ago. It was originally ornimental, then people were encouraged to plant it to prevent soil erosion. Now it is known as the vine that ate the south.

It covers everything here around Charlotte. It covers entire forests, it covers the ditches, it even covers the telephone poles and street signs in some places.

**MyAzi** · 02-10-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Yeah, blackberries.

The fruit is great, but there are vines that don't bare fruit, that like to grow in my back yard and take over everything. Grrrr.

if you spray them with straight vinegar... it will eventually kill them. If you can get to the main root and make a hole in it and pour vinegar in it, it should do the job. The only drawback is it ruins the soil for a long time to be able to grow anything else.

**ProEye** · 02-10-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Pro,

Is this a plant that was imported or is it natural to the area?

What are they doing about it? I assume that it has an aggressive root structure somewhat like blackberries? (that's our problem in western washington).

I know I'm repeating here since I decided to read all the posts this time--but I hate to delete it...

Kudzu is from Japan--sounds Japanese doesn't it? According to the article I posted (apparently skimmed over by dufferz...

) the plant was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental in the 1800's then it became a way of controlling erosion during the depression (so it was FDR's fault!!! I knew the libs were EVIL!!

)

The stuff can grow 60' in one year!!! Isn't that amazing???

Yeah, those blackberries are awful too. At least Kudzu isn't spiny. BUT blackberries are delicious! Anyway, eventually our country will be made up of only blackberry plants, Kudzu, Eurasian Milfoil, and dandelions...

Maybe if we can create some kind of illegal, mind-altering drug out of each one of these plants, then we will no longer have a problem. There will be no plants left and even if there were, we wouldn't care...

By the way, you can kill any plant by changing the pH of the soil. That's why vinegar apparently works. It's an acid. Try pouring clorox, lime, or pepsi in the ground and eventually it will kill.

**the dufferz** · 02-10-2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProEye

Kudzu is from Japan--sounds Japanese doesn't it? According to the article I posted (apparently skimmed over by dufferz...

)

Oh ouch!

A picture is worth a thousand words. I totally missed the link you posted, got caught up in the map. Sorry about that chief.

The dufferz did not do his homework!

**ProEye** · 02-10-2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Oh ouch!

A picture is worth a thousand words. I totally missed the link you posted, got caught up in the map. Sorry about that chief.

The dufferz did not do his homework!

LOL!!!

**ProEye** · 02-10-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Oh ouch!

A picture is worth a thousand words. I totally missed the link you posted, got caught up in the map. Sorry about that chief.

The dufferz did not do his homework!

Speaking of the map... Did anyone notice that there appears to be Kudzu in the Portland, Oregon area?? How did that happen? That seems rather odd...

Also, it's it really weird that it seems to only grow in the southern states--EXACTLY. Look at the northern border, it seems to follow the traditional north-south line. It's like it's further punishment for the Civil War...

**the dufferz** · 02-10-2007, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProEye

LOL!!!

yeah, gloat while you can! hehehehe.

I just read the article, well, skimmed it, since your explanation was so good.

That is quite a problem.

It reminds me of the scorge of Washington. Someone imported slugs as bug eaters. STUPID idea. sigh.

**ProEye** · 02-11-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dufferz

yeah, gloat while you can! hehehehe.

I just read the article, well, skimmed it, since your explanation was so good.

That is quite a problem.

It reminds me of the scorge of Washington. Someone imported slugs as bug eaters. STUPID idea. sigh.

Hey, I'm not gloating. Thought what you said was funny.

Who said slugs were bug eaters???? Any gardener, like me, HATES slugs! Just like fire ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and biting knats--> KILL THEM ALL!!!! There really is no reason for these disgusting, annoying pests. Why can't *nice* bugs take their place? I love spiders and and other predators. There are plenty of other bugs for them to eat so we don't need these pests!

Jenbar · 02-12-2007, 11:24 PM

I had something like that all over my yard in Bothell, WA - but it was Ivy. It was murder to kill/pull up/get rid off... we had a heck of a time... and ended up planting new sod over some of it - oops... sorry new home owners.

**ProEye** · 02-13-2007, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenbar

I had something like that all over my yard in Bothell, WA - but it was Ivy. It was murder to kill/pull up/get rid off... we had a heck of a time... and ended up planting new sod over some of it - oops... sorry new home owners.

Uh, sorry for what?

Jenbar · 02-19-2007, 12:21 PM

Because without killing the root, pulling it out - etc - It will likely come back.

**Wyoming53** · 02-19-2007, 12:58 PM

I wonder if this stuff is like Field bind weed (creeping Jenny). When I was down at the college, they had conducted a study and the roots of creeping jenny sometimes go more then 50 feet into the ground. Really makes it difficult to get rid of. Has anybody seen anything on Kudzu to indicate this sort of thing?

02-10-2007, 01:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
ProEye Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Jan 14th, 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 223	Any Kudzu in your area? I'm sure many of you are wondering what Kudzu is. Go the SE states and you'll know exactly what I mean. It's an incredibly fast growing vine that has taken over large sections of this country. It's like an alien invasion! http://www.alabamatv.org/kudzu/ __________________ "Don't get all worked up. It's just my opinion!" CT resident by way of ID, UT, TX, DC, CO, GA... ProEye

02-10-2007, 02:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wyoming53 Hermit Join Date: Jan 21st, 2007 Location: Sheridan, Wy. Posts: 1,522	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? I did a project down in Charleston, South Carolina and it was bad down there. It was growing up and choking off trees. The trees were dieing. I also did a project in Norfolk VA and it was there also, but not quite at bad. Around homes and such, the people were keeping it trimmed back to save their trees but it was a weekly cut-a-thon to keep it down. I also was in Tampa Florida for a while. There was nothing there but I often visited a friend up in Old Town and it was starting to infest their area. Now, having said that, I'm certain it is what you are talking about. But I never heard it refered to as what you mention. __________________ Wyoming Heat.

02-10-2007, 02:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
the dufferz Duff man! Join Date: Jan 04th, 2007 Location: Bothell, Washington Posts: 1,316	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? Pro, Is this a plant that was imported or is it natural to the area? What are they doing about it? I assume that it has an aggressive root structure somewhat like blackberries? (that's our problem in western washington). __________________ "Who am I and what am I doing here?" - James stockdale, Ross Perrot VP candidate, VP debate, 1992. My favorite political statement.

02-10-2007, 10:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
isabel STAYING RIGHT HERE Join Date: Jan 17th, 2007 Location: Central CA Posts: 1,356	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? We don't have this plant in our area, that I know of. But in our water ways and streams we do have a problem with a type of water plant. Clogs the water ways and floats on the surface. I believe it was also imported. Can't remember the name of it right now. Does anyone from California know the name of the plant I'm talking about. One of my clients has it in her pond. She has to put a chemical in the pond to get it to die off, a couple of times a year, and it always grows back. It really makes it tough for boaters on the delta. Izzy __________________ I discuss, I do not debate:)

02-10-2007, 12:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Curious George Banned Join Date: Jan 08th, 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,028	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? Eurasian milfoil is a problem in lakes up hear. it can grow to a thick matt 15’ thick an reduces sunlight an Chokes out other plants that fish need for food it can make a real mess in waterways. boaters up hear are required to inspect there boat an trailers when ever they pull out of a lake or river. on some spots on the st croix the dnr inspects boats an trailers before they enter the river.

02-10-2007, 01:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Curious George Banned Join Date: Jan 08th, 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,028	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? From what I read it is in about 120 lakes originally they figure it came from people dumping fish bowls in some lake by product of the aquarium trade with Europe It likes clear water an under 20 ‘ deep what a mess . did you hear about the guy that Went through the ice on his sled no Minnetonka a few weeks back some local about 50 One of the channels on the west side apparently he’s not to bright thin ice an channels = problems bet he won’t make that mistake again

02-12-2007, 11:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
Jenbar Banned Join Date: Feb 01st, 2007 Location: Here Posts: 595	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? I had something like that all over my yard in Bothell, WA - but it was Ivy. It was murder to kill/pull up/get rid off... we had a heck of a time... and ended up planting new sod over some of it - oops... sorry new home owners.

02-19-2007, 12:21 PM	#21 (permalink)
Jenbar Banned Join Date: Feb 01st, 2007 Location: Here Posts: 595	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? Because without killing the root, pulling it out - etc - It will likely come back.

02-19-2007, 12:58 PM	#22 (permalink)
Wyoming53 Hermit Join Date: Jan 21st, 2007 Location: Sheridan, Wy. Posts: 1,522	Re: Any Kudzu in your area? I wonder if this stuff is like Field bind weed (creeping Jenny). When I was down at the college, they had conducted a study and the roots of creeping jenny sometimes go more then 50 feet into the ground. Really makes it difficult to get rid of. Has anybody seen anything on Kudzu to indicate this sort of thing? __________________ Wyoming Heat.

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