Reeds are extremely prolific and are therefore difficult to remove. In principle, there is only one sensible, environmentally friendly and permanently successful method of getting rid of reeds. In the following we explain what it is and how you should not destroy your reeds under any circumstances.

Reed grows densely, quickly and robustly

Eliminate reeds: Digging is the solution

Remove reeds by digging them up. It's very tiring, but it's worth the effort. The sooner you tackle the reeds, the better. If it is small, the roots have not yet reached any significant depth and you can dig it up more easily.
If the reeds have already grown, you may have to dig up to two meters deep to remove all the remains of the roots.
First you should cut the foliage down to the ground. Then it goes to the value with spade and pickaxe. Dig both deep and wide, making sure to remove all roots. In the case of very high reeds or Chinese reeds, the use of an excavator may make sense. Learn more about digging up reeds here.

Repeated mowing can help

If you have reeds in the meadow, mowing several times can also lead to lasting success. Learn more here.

Why you shouldn't use chemicals despite your best efforts

Forums and gardening sites keep saying that you can get rid of reeds by eradicating them with Roundup or another weed killer. This is strongly discouraged. First, it's possible, especially with the hardy reeds, that they resisted the herbicide and you've poisoned your garden or pond for nothing.
Second, studies have shown that Roundup is highly harmful - to the environment and to you. Here are a few of the side effects of Roundup on the human body:

  • The glyphosate it contains is carcinogenic.
  • The "inactive substances" in Roundup affect fetal development and can cause birth defects in pregnant women.
  • It is associated with kidney and liver problems.

Now if you're thinking, well, but I don't drink it, then that's not quite right. Due to the excessive use of Roundup, increasing amounts of it end up in drinking water and become accessible to us. In addition, of course, it has the same effect on other mammals, such as cats and dogs, insects and other small animals. Other plants that thrive nearby can also pick up toxins, making the use of chemicals even more discouraged if you're growing fruit and/or vegetables in your garden.

Category:

Vegetable garden