The most effective ways to get rid of horseradish in the garden quickly and forever

Horseradish is a spicy and aromatic seasoning in traditional Russian cuisine. Sometimes its cultivation in a separate bed results in uncontrolled spread throughout the entire plot for the summer resident to the detriment of other plants. How to get rid of horseradish in the garden quickly and forever, read the article.

Why get rid of horseradish

Horseradish – a perennial herbaceous plant characterized by a powerful branched root system. It multiplies from the slightest segment of the root and begins to grow. That is why horseradish bushes are able to quickly and uncontrollably fill an area, preventing other crops from growing.

Why is it so hard

The powerful root system, growing to a depth of 7 m, makes breeding horseradish a very difficult task.. It is almost impossible to pull the entire root out of the ground without breaking it. The remaining parts are tenacious and quickly send out shoots from many buds, which give rise to several new plants at once.

How to grow horseradish in the garden

The process of getting rid of horseradish in the garden is labor-intensive, takes a lot of time and sometimes lasts up to several years. To remove this plant, gardeners use a whole range of methods:

• mechanical;
• agrotechnical;
• chemical;
• folk

Mechanically

To destroy an invader plant mechanically, it is necessary to completely dig up its rhizome. It is recommended to use a pitchfork rather than a shovel.Using this tool, the ground around the bush is loosened, after which the shoots are easily pryed and carefully pulled out, being careful not to damage or tear them.

This method has a number of disadvantages:

1. Labor intensity. To completely remove the rhizome, you have to manually turn over a large amount of soil.
2. High risk of damaging the rhizome. The remaining shoots begin to actively grow and spread throughout the entire area of ​​the site.
3. Impossibility of use in places where other cultivated perennial plants grow due to the risk of damaging them.

Regular cutting (mowing) of the above-ground part of the plant immediately after its appearance throughout the growing season weakens horseradish bushes and leads to their death in winter.

Agrotechnical methods

Harmless agrotechnical methods of combating horseradish include:

• blackout;
• replanting other plants;
• later fertilization with ammonium nitrate.

The essence of the darkening method consists in the fact that in the spring, when the first shoots appear, the bush is covered with a hard, dense material (a sheet of iron or flat slate, roofing felt) and pressed down with a weight to completely block the access to light. By next spring, the root system dies.

Method of replanting other perennial plants Suitable only for areas where it is not planned to plant annual crops. The area occupied by horseradish is planted with fruit or ornamental shrubs. The height of these plants significantly exceeds the size of horseradish. Therefore, it begins to lack sunlight, moisture and nutrients, the bulk of which are consumed by its larger neighbors. Being in unfavorable conditions, the weed gradually weakens and dies.

To weaken horseradish and prevent it from preparing for winter, they practice summer feeding with ammonium nitrate. Starting in mid-summer, the leaves are cut off, exposing the root, and it is filled with nitrate solution. High nitrogen content stimulates the active growth of green mass and does not allow the rhizome to stock up on nutrients. As a result, the plant is unprepared for wintering and dies with the onset of cold weather.

Reference. For better penetration of ammonium nitrate, the rhizome is cut crosswise and covered with moisture-proof material so that the substance is not washed away during rain.

Using herbicides

You can fight the invader plant with chemicals. This is one of the most effective ways. However, penetrating deep into the soil, aggressive chemicals not only destroy weeds, but also have a detrimental effect on beneficial crops. Therefore, the use of herbicides is justified in areas not planted with other plants. Otherwise, the application of such drugs is carried out in a targeted manner to reduce their harmful effects.

The most effective in the fight against weeds, including horseradish, are the systemic preparations Roundup, Hurricane and Tornado.. Before using herbicides, it is recommended to cut off the leaves of the plant in such a way as to expose the upper part of the rhizome as much as possible. Using a sharp needle or wire, the root is pierced in several places. Inject undiluted herbicide into the holes made with a 20-cc syringe, trying to inject the drug as deeply as possible.

Attention! There is no guarantee that it will be possible to remove horseradish from the site after the first use of the chemical.

In addition to systemic preparations, soil-active herbicides are also used to control dicotyledonous weeds: Agritox, Merlin, Estet. They are introduced into pre-moistened soil along with water for irrigation, abundantly moistening the bush. It is advisable to carry out this procedure during rain for more effective absorption of poisons.

Traditional methods

Traditional methods of combating horseradish have gained popularity due to their safety for both humans and cultivated plants. The most effective methods include:

1. Treating bushes with boiling water. They water the bushes several times.
2. Watering with concentrated infusion of chicken manure. Promotes burning of roots and death of the weed.
3. Sowing the garden with green manure for the winter. Occupying useful space and absorbing nutrients from the soil, they do not allow weeds, including horseradish, to grow. Typically, rye is used for these purposes, which has a powerful root system and clogs all the plants around the perimeter of the planting.

Although horseradish is an unpretentious crop, it still dies in an alkaline and acidic environment. Therefore, it is practiced to water the weed with a solution of citric acid and vinegar, as well as sprinkle the surface of the soil around the bush with table salt.

Attention! Excessive use of salt leads to soil salinity and its unsuitability for growing vegetables. Therefore, it is recommended to fill each bush with no more than 1-2 handfuls of salt.

Which method is the most effective?

There is no clear answer to the question of which method of struggle is the most effective. It all depends on a number of factors: the maturity of the bush, soil characteristics, the degree of damage to the site, and local agroclimatic conditions.

Reference. Most often, a positive result is achieved by the integrated use of various methods, which each gardener chooses individually depending on the situation.

Prevention of horseradish overgrowth

If you deliberately plant horseradish on your plot, we recommend taking care that the plant does not grow uncontrollably. To do this, limit its root system to a small enclosed space by planting the bush in a dug-in metal bucket, an old barrel or a box with thick walls.

When planting in an open bed, a continuous fence is erected, deepened into the soil by at least 0.5 m. This prevents lateral roots from penetrating beyond its boundaries. In addition, a low side above the ground prevents above-ground growth.

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Advice from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners have a considerable arsenal of tools and practical tips for combating horseradish. Here are some of them:

1. It is best to dig up the weed in early spring, while the soil is still loose.
2. The removed roots are not thrown into the compost heap. They are taken outside the site and destroyed.
3. For safe cultivation, horseradish is planted in a buried container, for example, a small barrel or a regular bucket.
4. When darkening horseradish seedlings, a thorough inspection of the shelter is recommended in order to identify cracks and tightness.
5. To plow the area in the fall or spring, first remove unnecessary bushes by hand so as not to spread root fragments over the entire area.

Conclusion

Growing horseradish is a very responsible activity. Improper agricultural practices lead to excessive spread of the plant. To overcome it, various methods are used - from chemical to folk. Their effectiveness is not always high, and the process of removing a plant from the site itself causes a lot of trouble and takes a lot of time and effort. Therefore, it is recommended to take care in advance about the place where horseradish is planted so that its cultivation brings only benefits.