Although the giant miscanthus is a very decorative and popular ornamental plant, it can also become a real pest. Once it has established itself in the garden, it is very difficult to remove.
How to remove giant miscanthus in the garden?
To successfully remove giant miscanthus, you should regularly cut it back as close to the ground as possible, carefully dig out the roots and cover any remaining roots with black pond liner (€278.00 at Amazon) to prevent regrowth.
Is it enough to cut off the giant miscanthus?
It's not enough to cut off the giant miscanthus once, it grows back relatively quickly. But if you cut it regularly at short intervals close to the ground, the plant will slowly become exhausted. It has no strength to form new rhizomes and will eventually die. But you need a lot of patience.
Are there chemical remedies against Miscanthus?
Of course there are also chemical products for removing (giant) miscanthus, but for the sake of your garden and your family you should not use them. The toxins they contain also harm other plants and animals that live in your garden. It can also get into the groundwater and be dangerous for people.
How do I get the roots out of the ground?
The only way to remove all roots is to dig thoroughly. If your miscanthus is still relatively young, then the work is fairly manageable. The older the plant gets, the stronger and longer the rhizomes are. They can grow up to two meters deep. So completely removing the reeds is a lot of work.
How fast does Miscanthus actually grow?
The giant Miscanthus, like all other Miscanthus varieties, is one of the very fast-growing plants. The average increase is stated to be up to five centimeters per day. This means that the reeds, also known as elephant grass, can quickly reach their maximum height of three to four meters.
How to get rid of Miscanthus:
- regular radical pruning (several times a year)
- Dig up roots
- cover any remaining roots in the ground with black pond liner (€278.00 on Amazon)
- spread good soil on the foil
- plant with flat ground cover plants
- Remove the film after one year at the earliest
Tip
If there is unwanted miscanthus on your lawn, cut it off just above the ground. Then mow it regularly with the lawnmower.
