It's green, leafy & grows a foot a day !

It's KUDZU ! ! ! !

They say that kudzu can grow 7 feet in one week.

The back portion of our property is COVERED in Kudzu !
We would love to be able to use all of our property. We just got a dog, a Lab/Weimaraner mix.
Loli would LOVE to use the back part of our property to run & play.

In all honesty, we have not fought much with the kudzu in the last few years. Other than keeping it out of our grassy areas, we have pretty much let it run wild in the back part of our property.

In the past, the only thing that has worked has been "Bush Be Gone" or another type of chemical in the "Round-up" brand. But it takes SO much money and so much time.

Plus, I don't want to walk on the kudzu, there's no telling what might be UNDER it.
So we spray from just outside of it. Then by the time that section of kudzu has died, the kudzu behind it is catching up ! ! !

I've been looking for answers online for how to get rid of this green monster.
So far, there seem to be very few options.

• Get a goat. (I don't think my neighbors would appreciate livestock, even in my rural subdivision)
  

• Use the same kind of chemical we've been using, "Bush Be Gone" or another type of chemical in the "Round-up" brand. (expensive for large areas, and possibly dangerous to animals)

• Burn it. (too dangerous in this drought)

• Cut off the root crowns of the kudzu plant. (instructions below)

Quote from ehow:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2072149_kill-kudzu.html

The root crown of the kudzu is usually just below the surface of the ground. (By noting where the vine tendrils meet, you will locate the root crown.)

Cutting the root crown off has two important advantages. It will immediately and completely kill the kudzu and you can entirely avoid herbicides.

Burning as described above will prepare the area for removal of the root crown by making it evident where the root crowns are and by destroying the existing vines.

You do NOT need to burn the area to find the root crowns. Burning accomplishes easier location of the root crowns and the destruction of established vines.

You need to be sure to locate ALL of the root crowns, and also to remove all of the root crowns dug up from the area. They need to be destroyed as, if they are covered by ground in the future, they can eventually start growing all over again, and perhaps infest a new area.


Does anybody have any other suggestions ? I'd love any help you could give.


Well, unless someone has a better suggestion, I guess I better get out my cutters, trowel & gloves. Nothing else seems to help, and everything else seems to expensive or dangerous.

Wish me luck !