How to kill a bush

OK I know that sounds a bit harsh, but I really need to get rid of it once and for all ...
Not sure of the name of the bush, but I bought it a few years ago and I am sure it was called a wandering something or other ... the common name should have warned me as it has grown quite a lot and is sending up suckers into the lawn area which grow over a foot high ! and also under the fence into next door ! It grows very quickly even though it is cut right down almost to the ground after summer - the flowers are yellow and to me look like dandelions but of course they are not ... I have tried to dig it out, but it is too strong for me and goes down quite deep .... there is nothing near to it so wondered if there was some poison or other I could pour into it - I have no pictures of it in flower and we have now cut it right back to around 8" again so no leaves at the moment either ... really need to get rid of it, however, we do have a little toad in our little back garden ..... even though we do not have a pond of anykind ! and he has been with us a couple of years now - we often see him and I would not like to kill him off .... so if anyone can offer any idvice ... or a strong arm lol ...

Val (North East UK)

 

Picture of leaf

Managed to get a stalk with leaves from between the fences so hope I can upload it OK - might give someone an idea what the bush is

Val

 

Looks like Kerria Japonica, an nice 'common' shrub, nothing really special and as you say it does sucker a lot once established...

 

As for getting rid of it - well there are plenty of glyphosate based products on the market and 'stuff' for killing brushwood and tree stumps. You could try those by cutting your bush down to almost ground level, painting it on and then covering the stump over with an up-turned bucket to keep your toad from harm. Chopping around the plant with a sharp spade to sever roots and pulling up those you can manage might also help.

And I'm resisting all temptation to say that at least you only have Mr. Toad and not his chums, Mole and Ratty as well. :DOH:

 

Yes !! that's it - Kerria - I remember now so thanks for that ... will go to garden centre tomorrow and see what I can get and will deffo cover the stump up as I want Mr Toad to stay .... have to say I am not actually frightened of rats but last year we had a wasp nest in the ground and had to get a man out todeal with that - give me a rat over awasp any day

Thanks for all your help........

Val

 

Kerria japonica Flore Plena.:D:D To use Glyphosate on it you need to let it grow a bit as the weedkiller is absorbed though the leaves, and you will probably need to treat it several times over the season.

 

I will burn them to death :yess:

 

So would I, but unfortunately it is next to the wooden fence adjoining our neighbours !

Val

 

I chopped down a big triffid-like Pampas Grass recently and also an Ivy which had formed itself into an 8ft shrub. When I got them down to a few inches above ground level, I painted on Tree Stump Killer, which has done the job and I've not had so much as a shoot from either of them

I used an old green recycling bin over mine - to protect my dogs but also to cover in case of rain so it didn't dilute it.

 

I got some stump killer, although we do not have a single stump left but half a dozen extremely hard strong stems which you can't even bend ! ... so will put it over all of them, plus the leaves on the stems through the fence and hope it works ....

Val

 

For good measure, all of the above, and hammer a copper nail into it. That should work.

 

too bad, but not to worry i have another idea water the wooden fence and start burning them. :yess: :WINK1: