If you see this Invasive Plant, REMOVE IT! (Identifying Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense)

[@kimdmg5941]

I have exactly the same thing on our land in TN. I have been pulling both by hand and using an Extractigator - best after it rains. I discovered if I cut, the plant just grows back with a much stronger root system. I have made a point of trimming off and getting rid of any berries to reduce spread. I just tried cut and squirt with Trichlopyr but don't know if it will work yet. Since there's no way I can pull up the big ones and many are not accessible with a backhoe, I am reduced to using chemicals. I will try treating stumps if the slash and squirt doesn't work. It's amazing to see the native Elderberries, peach trees and a myriad of other natives pop up after clearing out the privet. Even an American Persimmon! Very satisfying.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

It is all over our area. Unfortunately I think chemical means are what most people will have to do to eliminate it. Cutting it then treating the fresh cut should at least minimize the chemicals as best as possible. It's like finding treasure when you see a persimmon tree under all that mess! That's exactly why I don't want to hire a mulching machine to come in on our privet. It would take out the good with the bad.

[@mariannetracy4248]

Well said, and I may use your talking points with my neighbors. You said that "the first job as a responsible gardener" is to reduce invasive specis load" (not plant more tomatoes). At a certain point of (irresponsible) neglect, you'll find yourself in a corner. In my Upstate NY neighborhood, an invasive is the Chinese Tree of Heaven Tree, a "motel for harmful non-native insects like the spotted lanternfly." The lanternfly, once established, then broadens it's pallet to Maple trees, and a wide variety of our beloved trees and plants. I don't like using chemicals if I can avoid it - that's why I'm out there every 2 weeks pulling those tiny saplings BEFORE THEY TAKE HOLD!!! Wish I could say the same for a couple of my neighbors (who hate chemicals. So do I.)

[@sammysworld5485]

You really educated me on privets bcz I have them as hedges in my backyard for over 50 yrs. They do get big if not pruned.

[@rmi2548]

please take them out. it doesnte ffect u much but when ur negihbors have 50+ acres of land and have to keep dealing with it because the neighbors wont it gets very annoying

[@rmi2548]

not trying to sound rude but its true

[@gaz8891]

Hey, you can at least make sure to always prune the branches after flowering and before the berries are grown, so that the birds cannot feed on and spread the berries. Don't let the berries stay on the privet!

[@jamesstatham239]

I had my timber farm mulched to get rid of it. Problem was it came back as a bush from the stump that was left. You can spray the leaves with Glyphosate to help. It’ll kill the leaves but may not kill the roots. So I’ve bought an excavator (mini) to pull them out. I heard if you cut them off about ground level on the larger ones and drill a hole in the stump and fill it with Glyphosate that it will kill it. But then you still have the stumps. Also the smaller ones you can pull up by hand. But not too feasible if you have a a large quantity of them.

[@nolanholmberg311]

The fact that we all have to unfortunately come to terms with is that privet and other invasive like kudzu, Bradford pear, etc are here to stay and the only thing we can do as land owners is control it. And hope once we pass on, the future steward of our land do the same. I live in NC in a pine heavy area. Historically prone to & adapted for regular low intensity wildfire (as of much of the North American ecosystem is) so I found that the best method of controlling (not eliminating) privet is just doing regular controlled burns on my land every 2-3 years. Young privet & especially seedlings are highly susceptible to fire and therefore die with a very high success rate with this method. Mature privet will not die with this method. You will top kill them but in the spring it will sucker from the base. This can be controlled with the aforementioned regular burning every couple of years. I find this method of controlling privet is very successful. It also comes with other benefits as well. Clearing old leaves and opening up the ground to light helps our native plants germinate even in understory conditions and since almost all plants native to the US (especially the southeast and southwest) are fire resistant and often benefit from regular controlled burns, you're not only controlling the problems but helping the solution as well. Its amazing how lush the understory of wooded areas here can be, but unfortunately since we have to protect our property and homes we have suppressed wildfires here for years so the heavy buildup of leaves in the understory of our wooded areas is a very recent phenomena. Of course if you ever decide to take up this method, doing your own research on fire safety is key. Learning how to make a proper fire line for controlled burns, figuring out what conditions and days are best for burning, the direction and intensity of the wind, etc are all crucial safety skills necessary for properly and safely executing this method of control. (and for making sure the wife doesn't get pissed off)

[@Growingthehomegarden]

@jamesstatham239 and @nolanhumberg311 Some great info in your posts, thanks for contributing! I'll probably opt for a cut and treat the stumps first. See how much I can clear. I have some focus areas where native trees (Oaks, walnut, and juniper) are coming through so I'll attempt to clear around them first. That will give me chance to see what is growing underneath the privet if anything. That way I can preserve the good and terminate the bad. This stuff is everywhere so I agree it probably will never be eliminated but hopefully it can be controlled.

[@0585ccook]

Ugh. Definitely not my favorite. It's everywhere every time I turn around. We have several plants like that here in N. Mississippi💀 Used to be mimosa everywhere, but all the mimosa in the neighborhood got some fungal disease and died. Luckily, of the 25 I had growing half an inch from my foundation(bc that's what happens when you go away for the weekend and don't pull them up immediately, you come home and they are already 35ft tall with birds nesting in them) only one fell on the house.🙄

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Wow, those mimosas really take off! Not too terrible here in Tennessee but they are here and on the invasive lists as well.

[@allanjohnson2925]

Scrub cutter, bush hog, spray, scrape and Vigalent and fire. All methods that work. Constant problem here in New Zealand.

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

Cool, now I know what I was cutting down on my last video.

[@keystoneprepper1369]

Here in Mississippi, it's everywhere (kudzu, poison ivy and other growth as well). Currently, I am MANUALLY removing an abundance throughout my property. I have 1 1/2 acres, 1/2 (3/4 acre) is inundated with privet. Chasing the sun, these things are upwards of 20'-30' long and entangled with other privet pods nearby. All I can do, is continue hacking away little bit by little bit. This plant is ridiculous. I have been studying a lot about the species and eradication of it. It can be done, but it's also takes a lot of work.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

It's definitely a massive problem and take hard work to control it. We have kudzu here in this area as well but fortunately non on our property. Our other major invasive is the Callery pear tree. "Bradford" pears are all over mixed with the privet. They seem to grow well together unfortunately!

[@keystoneprepper1369]

@@Growingthehomegarden here as well, Honey Locust, Cedar, Oak and I have no idea what else... Over the course of my efforts, I am working on a vast variety of efforts to combat all of it. Between initially clearing, cleaning up other debris (glass, metals, brick/concrete...all blended with decades of foliage sediment, creating a more loamy soil that is greatly vulnerable to erosion), chemical weed control, spreading wood ash (alternative to lime to aid in bonding the soil more) and eventually tossing rye or elephant grass... this is one heck of an undertaking. Everything eventual!

[@cwf081166]

Stuff didn't last long in my neighborhood. Mama would say go get her a hickory and it would be one of these three feet long. Never knew what it was named, still not as bad a Kudzu.

[@Ephesians5-14]

The privet you show here is exactly what's growing all over our yard. But when I look up Chinese privet (supposedly the invasive kind), it doesn't look like this. What kind of privet is this?! Thank you for your help. These things are like whack a mole.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

This is the invasive Chinese privet. I made the video in December so the foliage may appear a little different than privet in the growing season. It's a terrible plant!

[@andyparstino7280]

We’re battling it on my property now using manual removal,chemical and prescribed fire 🤞🤞🤞

[@Growingthehomegarden]

That will quickly become a project for me. There's quite a lot of ground to gain back from these invasive plants!

[@Ephesians5-14]

It's a nightmare. I'm pulling up sprouts every time I turn around!

[@kevinanderson9335]

I just watched the Japanese dappled willow video from I think it was March of 2020. I am wondering if it would be possible to purchase, or trade for some cuttings of this variety? I plan to use the cutting(s) eventually as Bonsai experiments. I would have sent a request via an email, yet, I haven't noticed an email address to do so through. I would be interested in some Maple cuttings as well if you think they might be something I would be able to get to root as well. I consider this time of year as optimal for starting cuttings hence my reason for the request at this time. Thank you, and enjoy your day :-)

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

Demolition time perhaps? It's like a zombie. I thought this landscape looked like Tennessee. Nice location ❤

[@cathyeason9493]

I hate it very much . I fight it all the time.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

It's a bad bad plant. 👎

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

Forestry mulcher

[@Growingthehomegarden]

The only downside is privet will come back without spraying the cut ends of the privet. But for large areas its certain a good way to get a handle on it and make it more manageable.

[@zeez9053]

No

[@racecar9910]

Survival of the 💪