Anyone else come across invasive Rhododendron

crpswheelies

Never knew that Rhododendron was invasive until we moved into our current property.

We live in a flat with a communal back garden which is communal with the other blocks of flats on our side of the road and there is a good 100 metres of Rhododendron ponticum across the end of the garden which is more like trees than shrubs, a lot of the trunks are 4in or more across  with a lot of greenery cutting out light. Our council refused to remove it so my husband is taking a chainsaw to everything and shredding what he can.

Add to this ivy which is growing up most of the trees that are still standing directly behind our flat and brambles both of which won't be shredded and we have ourselves a right bad mixture. We are ok dealing with all this but I just didn't realize that rhododendron could be so invasive

I am hoping with a lot of good stuff added to the soil as we clear out the invasive stuff and roots that we will be eventually be able to plant some nice plants.

Fairygirl

Ponticum is now a really serious problem up here. It's pushing out our native species and requires a lot of graft to eradicate it, especially in glens and woodland which are home to lots of quite endangered species - both animal and plant.   Horrible stuff. 

I'm surprised your council is refusing to act. Mind you, that's councils for you