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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Plants that attack!
Ok that's a little dramatic. But there are plants that will slowly but surely suck the life out of your yard, trees, and sanity. Not to mention every person who owns your house after you and possibly your neighbors too.
They also happen to be the ones that quick-fixers want because they grow really fast. Nurseries still sell them (which drives me insane) until they are actually outlawed in a state.
Do you know of any that YOU have? Here are a couple of the worst offenders that I know of for our area:
#1. Golden Bamboo
Golden Bamboo information
Their rhizomes travel underground and can spread 50+ feet out from it's original planting location. Because the canes harden as they grow, they're not easy to cut down. I saw a show on HGTV where they got a backhoe to excavate an entire area, only to follow up with them in 6 months and find bamboo sprouts coming up out of the ground.
Not all bamboo is invasive, "Golden Bamboo" is the worst, but for the average person who will buy what's in front of them without investigating further, they should exercise restraint and choose something more well behaved.
#2. English Ivy
English Ivy information
On the Wantagh Parkway going south, right after the Merrick Road exit, is a severe infestation of English Ivy on the trees on the right side. The ivy deprives the tree bark of sunlight and slowly creeps and kills it, bottom to top.
It looks great on houses, but on the ground and on trees, it's really not easy to get rid of once it's there.
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Posted 5/7/09 11:14 AM  |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Plants that attack!
We have #$^#&$@!# bamboo 
The previous owners planted it. Our entire yard was dug up for the house renovation and cesspool system. We currently have tons of sprouts popping up. We've been trying to battle those things for years. I don't think we're ever going to win, but at least with a lot of effort, we can sort of contain it to certain areas.
We often refer to it as "Devil Weed", since it grows like a weed, and it's pure evil...
One of the reasons I got the bamboo floors in the house is to get "revenge" on the bamboo.... 
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| Posted 5/7/09 12:40 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Plants that attack!
It drives me NUTS when i see designers on HGTV planting it for their people.
i had it. i still get shoots come up. it's the worst thing ever.
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| Posted 5/7/09 12:53 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: Plants that attack!
my neighbors had bamboo...I watched after they cut it down and it kept sprouting up. They actually dug up their yard and brought in new dirt!
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| Posted 5/7/09 1:04 PM |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Plants that attack!
my brother in law put a wall of bamboo up and if i lived next door to him I would be ******. The stuff just destroys!
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| Posted 5/7/09 1:16 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Plants that attack!
Posted by GoldenRod
One of the reasons I got the bamboo floors in the house is to get "revenge" on the bamboo....
 feel better now?
The other day my neighbor mentioned bamboo and I nearly jumped down her throat not to do it. She just looked at me, but I explained myself and she understands now why not to buy it. So I printed her up some other options for privacy. Evergreens. I hope those are ok. The fast growing Cypress ones. Those are ok right Greenfreak???
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| Posted 5/7/09 1:30 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Plants that attack!
Posted by JldDolphin
Posted by GoldenRod
One of the reasons I got the bamboo floors in the house is to get "revenge" on the bamboo....
feel better now?
The other day my neighbor mentioned bamboo and I nearly jumped down her throat not to do it. She just looked at me, but I explained myself and she understands now why not to buy it. So I printed her up some other options for privacy. Evergreens. I hope those are ok. The fast growing Cypress ones. Those are ok right Greenfreak???
A little better....
Trees shouldn't be a problem since they don't usually grow as fast, or have off-shoots and rhizomes like grasses (bamboo) and ivy.
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| Posted 5/7/09 1:46 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Plants that attack!
I never knew how bad bamboo was until we moved to Suffolk, a year ago. Now I see it everywhere! I hate to say it, but one person plants it and then someone else admires it without knowing how bad it is, and boom. Invasive epidemic. 
I keep thinking we're screwing around with things too much just because we can. Bamboo is not native to the U.S. for a reason. We don't have Panda bears to eat it! Funny, but true. I'm wary of any plant name that starts with a name of a country other than ours. I was just b*tching about European Starlings the other day... same deal.
Jen, although Leyland Cypress aren't invasive, I've read that they're susceptible to disease. I honestly haven't looked into evergreen alternatives for a privacy screen because honestly, I can't stand the look of marching rows of cypress or arborvitae. I inherited two of them.
I'm looking into a privacy screen of sorts between the road and my 4 foot fence. So far on the list are:
Lilac (dark purple, light purple and white)
Flowering Quince
Forsythia
Rose of Sharon (this can be annoying too, but I plan to keep it in line)
Purpleleaf Sandcherry
Redtwig Dogwood
Beautyberry
Mock Orange
A lot of these aren't evergreen but we're in the backyard mostly in summer, so it would serve my purposes.
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| Posted 5/7/09 1:55 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Plants that attack!
Thansk Greenfreak! My neighbor's problem is this, they have a solid wood fence (6 ft high), but a new house was just built behind them and they built the house right near the back fence. They are mad because the 2nd floor to the new house, looks right into their backyard now. So they are looking for the row of evergreens, standing side by side to give them privacy now. I feel for her. I'm sure she won't do anything, but I tried to make her understand about the bamboo at least. 
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| Posted 5/7/09 2:06 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Plants that attack!
If she has room, sun and spread for an evergreen, what about a big beautiful blue spruce?
She sounds like she needs leafy trees, not shrubs, if she wants to shield their yard from a 2nd story.
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| Posted 5/7/09 2:13 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: Plants that attack!
My best friend has bamboo bordering her back and side yards. It is pretty and affords some privacy - but GOOD GOD with the maintenance!
And.. they want and inground pool but are forced to get only the most expensive type possible otherwise it can grow right through the pool! it can grow into and through concrete!
I love invasive flowers though.. but a wise greenfreak once told me that if it grows on the side of the highway I should not grow it in my yard.
I bow to her wisdom.
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| Posted 5/7/09 3:13 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: Plants that attack!
my own pet peeve - in my yard - is rose of sharon!
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| Posted 5/7/09 3:14 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Plants that attack!
GoldenRod, I forgot to tell you that I agree with your thoughts of putting the flooring down! I love that thought of sustainable flooring so I was happy to hear about that in the beginning but heard that it's not as hard as other woods? And scratches easier? We're going to be doing HW floors at some point but a dog and his claws that we have to consider.
Jeannie-San, thank you for heeding my warnings! That highway rule is a good one I think... yarrow, purple loosestrife, burning bush...  That's insane about their pool. You would never think that roots could crack concrete but I heard exactly the same thing from people trying to grow bamboo in concrete planters. That eventually, it split it right down. They had to BURN the plants to make sure they didn't survive. 
Erica, I've got hundreds of Rose of Sharon seedlings popping up everywhere. I'm going to be veeeeery careful about letting one or two of them stay!
Message edited 5/7/2009 3:31:39 PM.
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| Posted 5/7/09 3:31 PM |
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KLSbear
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 1908 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Plants that attack!
My pet peeve is what I call the "Evil Vines" - they creep underground and wind themselves up around shrubs, azalea, oak trees, etc. Anywhere we don't mow, they seem to find there way in. I keep trying to erradicate them and I'm making some progress, but not 100% yet. I haven't been able to identify it from pics - doesn't seem to look like Kudzu (mostly in the SE but has been found on LI) or the Mile-A-Minute-Vine. Whatever it is, it's a PITA.
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| Posted 5/7/09 6:40 PM |
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LuvmyShihTzu
<3 I <3 my DD <3
Member since 8/08 3325 total posts
Name:
Happiest Mommy <3
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Re: Plants that attack!
I hate the both of these plants too!!!!
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| Posted 5/7/09 8:34 PM |
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MDF
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Member since 5/05 2313 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Plants that attack!
UGGG English IVY!!! My Neighbor behind me has 50% of her backyard covered in it and I am constantly cutting it from coming under and on top of my fence. Hate it hate it hate it. And they have vines good I hate them as much as the Ivy
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| Posted 5/8/09 7:49 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Plants that attack!
Posted by greenfreak
GoldenRod, I forgot to tell you that I agree with your thoughts of putting the flooring down! I love that thought of sustainable flooring so I was happy to hear about that in the beginning but heard that it's not as hard as other woods? And scratches easier? We're going to be doing HW floors at some point but a dog and his claws that we have to consider.
No, it's the exact opposite. Especially the natural color. If you get a good brand (I use http://www.teragren.com ) that uses the better grade of bamboo, it's stronger than almost any hardwood you can find. Teragreen also has a stranded version that is even stronger than regular bamboo. My contractor commented to me several times about how strong that stuff is, and he's been installing hardwood floors for years.
Not all bamboo is "sustainable". Some growers clear-cut rain forest to grow their cash crop, and use chemicals, etc. That's one of the main reasons I went with Teragreen. They use sustainable growing methods (and no harmful chemicals in the glues, unlike other brands).
We're planning on getting the stranded version next year for our dining room and kitchen.
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| Posted 5/8/09 8:00 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Plants that attack!
I've never told you this before, but it is so refreshing to have someone else that not only invests in environmentally friendly ideas, but also does thorough investigation to debunk myths and make sure you're not being "taken" by fake "green" products.
Thank you very much for that information, I am putting *truly* sustainable bamboo back on the table for flooring.
Do you have pets, out of curiosity? Or have you dropped anything on the floor, dragged furniture across it, etc.?
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| Posted 5/8/09 8:58 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Plants that attack!
I learned about bamboo and I am too shocked that people still suggest it on TV.
Ivy is horrible. I am still battling with me from the previous owner. It comes back every year but little by little I am "DESTROYING" it. I make it my mission. But I know it will be an endless battle.
Goldenrod: I love the "revenge" of the bamboo theory. And yes, until you said something about different types of bamboo flooring, I would have not known that there were different kind of hardiness. I had based my whole view on bamboo floors based on the horrible reviews I read about it. The cheap stuff that scratch like crazy.
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| Posted 5/8/09 9:05 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Plants that attack!
Posted by greenfreak
I've never told you this before, but it is so refreshing to have someone else that not only invests in environmentally friendly ideas, but also does thorough investigation to debunk myths and make sure you're not being "taken" by fake "green" products.
Thank you very much for that information, I am putting *truly* sustainable bamboo back on the table for flooring.
Do you have pets, out of curiosity? Or have you dropped anything on the floor, dragged furniture across it, etc.?
I also like that you're a "Green Freak"... I've picked up a few tips from some of your posts as well. 
I did a LOT of research when picking out things for my reno, and I was also surprised at some of the "green" things that are out there. For some companies, it's just a marketing gimmick to get gullible people to buy their stuff.
I have a dog and two DC. The DC have no qualms about dragging a chair across the office to be in front of the computer... Often, DS shifts the chair while DD is on it so she can see better...  We are far from careful in the office, and I haven't noticed anything in the floor in the last 7 or 8 months since we've had it installed. The dog doesn't like the floor too much, but he does come part-way in the room whenever we're in there. Of course, since he's nervous on anything that isn't grass or carpet, he likes to use his nails for more grip...  Again, I haven't seen any marks, and I notice EVERYTHING in my house.
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| Posted 5/8/09 9:13 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Plants that attack!
Posted by smdl
Goldenrod: I love the "revenge" of the bamboo theory. And yes, until you said something about different types of bamboo flooring, I would have not known that there were different kind of hardiness. I had based my whole view on bamboo floors based on the horrible reviews I read about it. The cheap stuff that scratch like crazy.
Also, take any reviews of any kind of wood or bamboo product with a grain of salt. It IS a softer material than concrete, stone or tile. Many of the reviews I've read have people expecting bamboo to be harder than their tile or marble floor. High-quality bamboo is strong, but it's not bullet-proof.
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| Posted 5/8/09 9:16 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Plants that attack!
Found this review for Teragren Flooring
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| Posted 5/8/09 9:50 AM |
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