How do I get rid of or kill invasive Goji berry runners. About 7 years ago, I planted three Goji berry plants in a patio raised bed. The first year they were lovely plants then in two years they were beautiful and very prolific. Eventually they showed up in other raised patio planters that they were not wanted. We dug them out, fought them off and constantly fought them. I had no idea they had runners that can go under patio pavers and cement into other areas. Last year I had the original planter and another planter 4 foot away dug out completely and had the roots treated to kill and left empty. But this spring after a few Northern California Bay Area rains the berries are growing through the empty raised beds and I had them pulled out and dug out below the gopher wire again and now I wonder what can I do next? Can I treat to kill again and with what? Can I line with heavy plastic? I am at a loss and just want my gorgeous and prolific garden back again. Ten years ago I removed the front lawn and had patio pavers and raised redwood garden beds to grow organic and seed saver veggies and flower garden put in. We had a nice fence and iron gate installed to keep the deer out. It was a garden full of life, bees buzzing and small birds as regular guests. I like probiotics so thought how wonderful to grow my own Goji berries which was a big mistake!!! Beautiful plants that would have been wonderful along the back fence of my lower back natural yard, but no where near a planned veggie, fruit and flower garden. Please advise how I can eradicate these Goji berries from my front garden.

The only to get rid of the runners is to kill the tree. Cut it and while the cut is still fresh pour on Undiluted Round Up concentrate or stump/brush killer of your choice. Those runners will end up in your neighbors yard too.

Joheff said:How do I get rid of or kill invasive Goji berry runners. About 7 years ago, I planted three Goji berry plants in a patio raised bed. The first year they were lovely plants then in two years they were beautiful and very prolific. Eventually they showed up in other raised patio planters that they were not wanted. We dug them out, fought them off and constantly fought them. I had no idea they had runners that can go under patio pavers and cement into other areas. Last year I had the original planter and another planter 4 foot away dug out completely and had the roots treated to kill and left empty. But this spring after a few Northern California Bay Area rains the berries are growing through the empty raised beds and I had them pulled out and dug out below the gopher wire again and now I wonder what can I do next? Can I treat to kill again and with what? Can I line with heavy plastic? I am at a loss and just want my gorgeous and prolific garden back again. Ten years ago I removed the front lawn and had patio pavers and raised redwood garden beds to grow organic and seed saver veggies and flower garden put in. We had a nice fence and iron gate installed to keep the deer out. It was a garden full of life, bees buzzing and small birds as regular guests. I like probiotics so thought how wonderful to grow my own Goji berries which was a big mistake!!! Beautiful plants that would have been wonderful along the back fence of my lower back natural yard, but no where near a planned veggie, fruit and flower garden. Please advise how I can eradicate these Goji berries from my front garden.

Yeah, I've got to admit, I'm starting to regret planting mine. I'm getting ready to tear them out in the fall. The roots are still accessible, nothing hidden under cement, but for a plant that was so wimpy and difficult to get started, these things don't die! Too bad, because the fruit is the best!

Did you resolve your problem?

Thanks, no, my goji problem is still lurking in my garden. Again the original location and its other new appearances will be cut and dug out again this month, as has been done several times, I will poison. I have never used Round Up because of the bees and other important creatures but I am almost ready to. Once I treat the areas I will leave area empty a while, then line with plastic and cardboard. Place fresh soil in and plant flowers and hope for the best. If I use Round Up, I will be afraid to plant veggies.
Thanks so much.
Joheff

Joheff - can you replant the gojis in big pots? Gosh, no Roundup. They're a challenge to get past the first year here but I think you'll have a better chance.

Joheff said:Thanks, no, my goji problem is still lurking in my garden. Again the original location and its other new appearances will be cut and dug out again this month, as has been done several times, I will poison. I have never used Round Up because of the bees and other important creatures but I am almost ready to. Once I treat the areas I will leave area empty a while, then line with plastic and cardboard. Place fresh soil in and plant flowers and hope for the best. If I use Round Up, I will be afraid to plant veggies.
Thanks so much.
Joheff

You have my sympathies, but we must stay strong! We have friends whose daughter has brittle bone disease due to her father's exposure to poisons in the lawn industry. Yeah, it affected his sperm. Scary. I will not poison as much as I want to. I have been living with thistles, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch. Believe me, I'm desperate. But, I look at Sylvan's photo on the wall, and go, nope, never.

Actually don't think Round Up is made to kill roots anyway.

I wish I could remember what remedy I was told to use years ago. At the time, we were discussing blackberries, which I consider to be easy to get rid of and not worth poisoning. All I remember was how it was applied was important. I believe the underside each leaf had to be painted with the solution around four o'clock in the afternoon as that was when the plant was doing its most efficient "breathing."

Keep me posted!

Round up concentrate worked on the roots from my neighbor's gogi berry. Those roots can travel forever under the concrete. He chopped down his tree and paved over it. I cut the shoots that were coming up on my property and poured straight RoundUp concentrate on the fresh cuts. It worked. You need to use the original product, and the cuts need to be fresh. RoundUp has no soil life, so once the roots are dead, the soil should be good to replant. The whole purpose of glysophate is to kill the plant from the root up. It has to be absorbed into the plant's system to get to the root, because even roots have a protective, bark like covering for their protection. Really tough or large roots may take more than one application. if they do, re cut and re pour. We used the same method for stumps when trees were cut on the freeways.

Thanks, no, my goji problem is still lurking in my garden. Again the original location and its other new appearances will be cut and dug out again this month, as has been done several times, I will poison. I have never used Round Up because of the bees and other important creatures but I am almost ready to. Once I treat the areas I will leave area empty a while, then line with plastic and cardboard. Place fresh soil in and plant flowers and hope for the best. If I use Round Up, I will be afraid to plant veggies.
Thanks so much.
Joheff