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Spanish bluebells

B3B3 Posts: 25,227

Last year, I diligently pulled up every bluebell I could find.

This year they're back in force so I'm just going to slice them off with a hoe and turn my hand to a more rewarding activity instead image

In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • PeggyTXPeggyTX Posts: 556

    How pretty they are.  Sounds like they are really invasive and hard to get rid of.  Too bad.  I've not seen them before. 

    My low-carb recipe site: https://buttoni.wordpress.com/
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,227

    I like Celandine, Philippa but it seems to behave in my garden - does its thing then disappears until next year.

    Spanish bluebells have crossed with th native bluebells and are indeed an invasive pest, Peggy.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    Over many years I've eradicated Spanish bluebells by pulling the leaves as soon as they appear. nothing to feed the bulbs for the following year.

    SW Scotland
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    glyphosate works, but it still can take three to four years to wipe them out

  • PeggyTXPeggyTX Posts: 556

    They sound like a terrible nuisance, indeed.

    My low-carb recipe site: https://buttoni.wordpress.com/
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,227

    Irritating this time of year, but forgotten by Juneimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139

    We have some in a tiny bed round the base of an old well at the front.  I spotted them last April when we were looking at the house and know they have to go because I have some proper bluebell seeds I plan to sow one day.

    I'm planning to dig out the entire thing - carefully as there are treasures in there like autumn daffs, cyclamen and spring daffs.  It will all have to be sorted and then the soil improved with compost before putting back the good guys.    

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,227

    Don't leave them too long. I think they burrow down. I went down to my elbows,and still didn't reach the bulb. Admittedly, I've got shortish arms - but you get the picture.image

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,139

    They're pretty M-U but a nightmare if you want to keep the much more attractive and colourful native bluebells from being wiped out.

    The bed ours are in is only inches wide so there isn't any room for unwanted plants.  I can't widen it very much as the well makes a sort of roundabout in front of the house and we have to be able to get cars round it without squishing treasures.. 

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,227

    Looking at the piles of foliage that I compost, I wonder what they're stealing from my soil. Hopefully, if I get them as they poke their heads up, the nutrients might stay for my favoured plants.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
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