Hi everyone,

We have just moved into a new place on south padre island with a small backyard and we are in the process of trying to plant grass. So far we have weeded most of the area but we have stumbled upon what seems to be a pretty aggressive plant. It is everywhere underneath our soil/sand. I can not stick the shovel into the ground with out cutting into 1 to 5 of these. Their thorns have some sort of toxin if you prick your finger on them. So far I've found this running as far as 18 inches deep at this point. The longest one I have been able to pull up has been about 13 feet before it broke off and they seem to go quite deep as well. Should we till this area, chop it up and rake it? From what I've been finding it looks like blackbrush acacia or catclaw acacia. Any help towards getting rid of these would be much appreciated. On a side note, with our backyard not getting a great amount of sunlight any suggestions on what grass to go with?

Thanks in advance,

Justin

Justin, could you provide better and closer pictures of the leaves?

I'm going to move this thread over the Plant ID forum where it's sure to be seen by everyone.

I'll head outside to see if I can snap a better shot. Thanks

The thorns suggest Blackbrush Acacia, it's present in South Texas.

It resprouts vigorously when it is disturbed but can be managed using herbicides

This depends much on your view of using herbicides, even if you do use them they would probably resprout from the running roots. The only effective way I have found to remove invasive roots is to just keep digging them out, wait a while to see what starts to grow again as you will surely miss some, then dig out what you have missed but make sure not to break any off while digging if that's possible.

http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbari...

Cat-claw Acacia has thorns the shape of a cat's claw..

http://www.californiadesert.go...

I can't advise on what type of grass will grow best for your situation, someone else might be able to.

Aside from the palm trees, johnson grass and the dandelions, we were going to keep what I thought was a oleander. Not positive on it, but could all these running roots be from this plant?

That's a tropical hibiscus and no, it has nothing to do with your invader.

My mistake I meant hibiscus lol. I moved from oleander st (two streets down) over to hibiscus and for some reason had oleander stuck in my head haha. Thanks for clarifying that its not my invader.

And I'd say that Hibiscus could stand to be pruned!

Lol you're right it could, but considering how bad our mini jungle was starting out it can wait.



While trying to dig up the running root and attempting not to break it, we found out that they're running under our neighbor's property, which is completely covered with a cement slab and a pool. This root stretches to about 8 to 9 feet before the property line. Suggestions?

Suggestions:

1) If the roots are not too deep, try putting a barrier in the ground on the border.

2) You swap places with me in cold England.

Janet, I love your sense of humor.

I wonder if it would work to paint the cut stems with a brush killer?

It has crossed my mind that I would border the yard with brick about 1ft down as we have a utility efficiency behind us that its over ran with johnson grass and dandelions and our neighboring property to the right is filled with johnson grass.

Valleylynn: that's a great idea! what type should I use on it?

Oh, and bugs.... there's a reason I haven't left this Island lol

Wow.

I'd definitely try herbicides on the foliage first. Though it probably won't kill all of that, it might at least weaken the plant and slow it's progression.

After that, I think you'll have to dig and yank. Blocking with cardboard might work for a year or so, but it would have to be repeated often as the cardboard breaks down.

Karen

Justin that shady corner with the two Sabal palms and the WEEDS has great potential! I'm thinking bromeliads...

JustinN said:. So far I've found this running as far as 18 inches deep at this point.

I doubt putting bricks 1 foot down will stop them, it's more likely to give them somewhere to secretly hide and multiply making it even more difficult.

I would attempt to put something like thick impenetrable 3 feet barrier down but that might not stop the roots if they can travel deeper. You should be able to get some sort of barrier which is made to contain bamboo roots, usually a very thick plastic which would deflect the roots.

http://www.best4garden.co.uk/s...

That's a great idea Janet, the bamboo barrier.

Justin I would check with your county extension agent to find out what would work best for you as an herbicide. They are such helpful people.

Thanks for the barrier Idea, with the way our neighbors yard sits we will definitely need it. Keep in mind this is not our house, we are renting but the owner is motivated to sell in which we may buy at the end of our lease. The only plans we currently is to place a horse shoe pit and to get our grass started for our future puppy.

Dutchlady: all the weeds from that corner have been pulled and the hibiscus is all that stands.

My girlfriend ended up going for a run this morning and stopped 2 miles down from our place to stretch. When she looked down she spotted our little friend in someones front yard popping out of their grass.

valleylynn said:That's a great idea Janet, the bamboo barrier.

Justin I would check with your county extension agent to find out what would work best for you as an herbicide. They are such helpful people.

thanks for the idea