Plants that overgrow large parts of the garden are not popular and welcome everywhere. In order to be able to combat them successfully, you should know which plant it actually is. It's the same with the arum rod.
How can I fight arum effectively?
To successfully combat arum, either pull out all plants with gloves or dehydrate it and expose it to strong sunlight. Pay attention to possible skin reactions caused by plant sap and consider the nature conservation law.
It is not always the “real” arum (bot. Arum maculatum). Often the unwanted plant is something completely different, such as a lizard root (bot. Sauromatum venosum), also known as a voodoo lily. It belongs to the Araceae family, but is only distantly related to it.
Does the arum really have to go?
The arum with its bright red berries actually has no place in a family garden. They are too tempting for small children. What is particularly dangerous is the fact that these berries do not taste unpleasant but rather sweet. If you suspect that your children have eaten it, you should consult a doctor immediately.
With a size of around 15 to 40 cm, the arum is not particularly large. It likes to grow in partial shade and under trees. The berries shine red where otherwise there is hardly any color. If there is no danger to small children or pets, then you can let this protected plant grow in a quiet corner of your garden.
How do I fight the arum?
If you really want to remove the arum from your garden, then either let it “starve” or tear out all the plants. Remove water from the arum and expose it to plenty of light and it will retreat there.
If you have decided to pull out the arum, you will probably be successful quite quickly. To avoid a severe rash, you should definitely put on gardening gloves (€9.00 on Amazon) before you start working. The juice of the arum has a caustic effect. Only when the plant dries does the effect slowly wear off.
The most important things in brief:
- very poisonous, all parts of the plant!
- Berries very tempting for children
- Contact with the juice can trigger skin reactions
- wear gloves when fighting
Tip
If no one is endangered by the arum in your garden, then you don't necessarily have to fight this plant, after all it is protected and is therefore quite rare.