OK, almost everyone here is going to start hissing & booing at me, but I need some help. I have a small section of my yard, probably only 5-7' long and about 12" wide, that is overgrown with these hens & chicks. I'm not one for succulents, so I really don't want them. I ignore them for the most part, never water them, NEVER feed them, but they just keep growing! They've taken over my hollyhocks and they just keep a'creeping along. How on earth do I get rid of them? I've dug them out, but they just keep coming back! I figured that they wouldn't survive the cold unprotected, but they seem to thrive on less-than-good care. help? I hate using chemicals if I can avoid it... Don't ask me what kind they are as I have NO idea. I didn't plant them, they're volunteers from the neighbor behind me & the neighbor doesn't know what they are as they planted them like 20 years ago.

If they are the common ones, then they are hard to kill, but they shouldn't come back if you remove all the rosettes.
Never watering them and never feeding them is a good way to keep them alive here. I have a whiskey barrel full of them that's been ignored for over 25 years.

You can try watering them well, especially before a good freeze. That should rot them. If that doesn't work, then wet them down good during a good hot day and that should rot them out.

If you weren't so far away, I'd come and dig them up. I've got a good place for them.

Tabby - You want them? I can dig 'em out & bring 'em to ya (well, all? perhaps.. maybe not, not sure yet exactly how many I have.. I can take pictures), I wouldn't mind at all. Seriously. I'd rather them go to a good home than to be chopped into compost here. No one wants them here, I've tried giving them away. First day I could do this would be probably Sunday. I'm fighting a nasty cold right now (of course I am.. the weather's perfect!!) and don't really feel like doing squat but I'm still stuck at work. Beh.

Toni..Id gladly send you postage for some. We always had hens & chicks growing up
and I know me and my mom would give them a good home

Are you sure you'd want to do this? I'm way the heck out by Rocky Flats. Almost as west as you can get.

On a different topic, if you want to see and smell a LOT of roses, come by in late June. And take cuttings to experiment with.

I think Sunday is ok. We might be out looking for a new spruce tree Saturday.

See Toni, nobody hissed and booed, and you found some good homes for them to boot!!

yay!!

Tabby - I've been droolin' to see your rose garden. What you have is what I strive to attain... but your garden is a wee bit older than mine and you have just a few more days experience than I do. just a few. That's all, not much... (I think you've been gardening almost as long as I've been alive...)

Shannon - I'd be happy to send you some. Heck, I'd be happy to send ANYONE some. I hate killing things that grow unless it's a thistle.. I hate thistles. And aspens. I hate aspens.

I'll take pics this weekend & post 'em. That way people can see what I have and, if they wanna pay postage, I will be happy to send 'em some. I have shipped plants before, and these guys seem extremely hardy, so it shouldn't be that difficult to send out. Shipping plants is a LOT easier than shipping fish!

I wish you could have seen the roses back in the 1990's when I was still healthy. I got sick (MS) and had to cut WAY back on the things I do, so the roses have suffered.

I can't imagine shipping fish. I have shipped two chickens and worried sick until they arrived safe. Hens and chicks may be the easiest plants to ship since they don't need dirt and don't dry out as fast as many other plants (such as non-dormant roses).

Thanks Toni..I dont need any pictures I like being supprised I will tell my Mom she will Love them

Been there with shipping fish sold my 250 gal tank and I found a home for my Show goldfish in Colorado had my friend that's a EMT bring me a O2 tank so I could bag them safely

Tabby try shipping Canaries . Was so worried .But,got good at it after a while . My PO in NJ was great they all took such great care of
my birds during transit..Maybe giving everyone that wanted a canary one Free helped Cant wait til I can
have chickens

I get to start with Hens & Chicks COOL

No hissing and booing here.

Toni, did you pull them all out, or just enough to clear some ground? They are shallow rooted and if you pull all the rosettes out, they can't come back.
I also have some of the old tectorum type sempervivum, they were here when we bought this place 13 years ago. They are a really tough plant that thrives on neglect. : )

Shannon, hope this is only the beginning of an addiction to these great plants!

Lynn - I've chopped, pulled, cursed, & ignored these damned things. They just keep multiplying. I'm hoping that my nasty cold will leave me today so I can get out. These days of perfect 67-73 deg w/no wind is really bumming me out 'cuz I'm not really well enough to go outside and putter around! But I'm gonna do that today, and if I have to just have kleenexes shoved up my nose to keep the snot from barreling down my face, then that's what I'm gonna do.

Yep, your a dedicated gardener Toni.
Can you show us a photo of the offending plant?

It finally stopped raining yesterday for about 8 hours and no wind, in the low 50's. I bundled up and went to work in the raised beds. What a glorious day it was.
I moved a bunch of trays and pots, weeded one of the raised beds and took photos of all the semps in that bed.
I came in as it was starting to get dark, wet from kneeling and sitting on the ground and covered in mud. What a wonderful time I had.
Then I had to take Aleive.

Hi Toni! Cacti and succulents are staples in my garden...am a very willing recipient too!!!

Just get my mom to visit. She kills every Hen and Chick I give her. Just water them daily. They will croak.

Hello everyone!! Skiekitty, I'd love to take some off your hands!! I live in Parker and can either meet you or send money for postage. You let me know what works better!!

Now, Tabby, I love your Semp pics!!! You have an awesome collection!! I may need to get some pointers from you on care and making them thrive. Appears like no attention is the main thing. LOL!!!

Audrie - you tell me when & I can meet you somewhere as I'm in Parker too!! I was supposed to meet up with some one locally but never heard back from them.

Perfect!! I sent you a message!!!

hi..
am in missouri.. would surely like to have some. Just starting my garden and am sure this will add beauty to it.
Plz let me know if some one could share these.

thanx