Agave

[dun]

A little history: Near the old original log cabing home place there
are a number of agave like plants. This is a smaller form then what
is usually thought of as agave and doesn't have the pulpy leaves,
more viborous, and only the single sharp point on the end rather then
along the margins of the leaves.
I have noticed in one pasture, 1/4 mile or so from the orgianl
plants, several new plants. At least they're new to me since I
hadn't noticed them before. They're about 6-8 inches in diameter at
the base and about a foot tall.
The question is, what herbicide is most appropriate for these
things. 2,4-d, roundup, Remedy, or something else?

Thanks

 

[fellersbarnoneranch]

Sure you don't want to venture into the Ozrak Tequila biz???

 

[dun]

Sure you don't want to venture into the Ozrak Tequila biz???

It would have to be fermented then dried and made into Tequila jerky. This stuff would make good rope if the fibers where longer. I wacked some at the old cabing with a moderatley sharp (semi dull) brush hog and it almost looked like I'ld but a power cable.

dun

 

[D.R. Cattle]

A little history: Near the old original log cabing home place there
are a number of agave like plants. This is a smaller form then what
is usually thought of as agave and doesn't have the pulpy leaves,
more viborous, and only the single sharp point on the end rather then
along the margins of the leaves.
I have noticed in one pasture, 1/4 mile or so from the orgianl
plants, several new plants. At least they're new to me since I
hadn't noticed them before. They're about 6-8 inches in diameter at
the base and about a foot tall.
The question is, what herbicide is most appropriate for these
things. 2,4-d, roundup, Remedy, or something else?

Thanks

Could it be Aloe?

 

[dun]

Could it be Aloe?

Not fleshy enough and the only Aloe I've seen had white spots. This stuff is just solid dark (almost black) green.

dun

 

[dun]

Hot ziggies, we have a winner

http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/Flowers/Yucca.html

And I've been told it's nearly impossible to kill.

dun

 

[cherokeeruby]

You beat me to it, Dun. We try not to kill the yucca we like the flowers.

The ones we accidentally mow with the shreader have a hard time coming back.

 

[D.R. Cattle]

Haven't seen too many of them but it's a huge favorite of the Cubans down here. They harvest the roots and have some way of cooking it to a delicacy. Frankly I didn't like it very much at all, but I guess it goes to show the different tastes of different cultures. I guess your going to have to dig it up. Maybe you could offer it to someone who likes to eat that stuff and they'll do it for you.

 

[dun]

We try not to kill the yucca we like the flowers.

The ones we accidentally mow with the shreader have a hard time coming back.

The ones I had inadvertantly mowed at the old cabin have come back pretty well. The ones I want to get rid of are in the middle of a pasture that we hay every few years. I can think of lots ofthings I'ld rather have in the hay then these spiney things. I think the reason I noticed them this year is because they were mowed and baled in the hay last year so the pasture isn;t as grown up as it normally is this time of year.
I finally got a guy from NRCS to figure out what they were from my description. He's tried to get rid of them and hasn't had much luck.

dun

 

[jkwilson]

Digging and burning has been the only way I've had any luck killing them. It will take more than a year. They just don't seem to take much herbicide in through the foliage. Don't do any soil tillage or you'll have them everywhere.

 

[eric]

I agree, the few plants I've seen around here we just dug out and threw on the burn pile. But they are usually in the gawd awlfullest, rockiest, hardest ground on the whole place, where only rocks and lizards seem to grow! Sometimes we have to pour a barrell full of water on them just to be able to get a shovel in the ground. And I've even had folks stop by and pick them up out of my pile and ask if they can have them.

 

[Chuckie]

It's funny what are weeds to some are flowers to others. There are 5 potted agave plants in this house, and Yucca outside. Yucca sales are big business in this area. It's funny how one man's weed is another man's flowers. Here is a company that went a different direction with the Yucca's. http://www.yuccado.com/ I have placed a few orders to this company. Sounds like you need to break off into a side business!! Here we have Passion vines and Hummingbird vines that will choke out the cotton. I wish I had a dollar for every one I chopped with a hoe!

 

[dun]

It's funny what are weeds to some are flowers to others. There are 5 potted agave plants in this house, and Yucca outside. Yucca sales are big business in this area. It's funny how one man's weed is another man's flowers. Here is a company that went a different direction with the Yucca's. http://www.yuccado.com/ I have placed a few orders to this company. Sounds like you need to break off into a side business!! Here we have Passion vines and Hummingbird vines that will choke out the cotton. I wish I had a dollar for every one I chopped with a hoe!

I made the mistake of telling the grandkids that "a weed is just a flower in the wrong place". They then wanted me to start a flower bed for queen anns lace, bull nettels, thistles, etc.

dun

 

[joe]

perhaps we can list and trade our weeds? The Mrs spent $12 each for 4 yuccas last year! It will be a few years before they are even big enough to bloom.

 

[ga. prime]

That Yucca looks like what we call Bear Grass around here. They grow im sandy well drained areas and generally don't colonize an area to any great extent. If you get some Tordon RTU and squirt some in the root zone of the plant, I'll wager it'll kill the dog out of it. I've used Tordon on numerous species of plants and it always works. Let me add that you shouldn't do this if a tree that you don't want dead has roots in the root zone of the Yucca.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I've seen lots of that stuff, planted on purpose around people's yards. Its like Morning Glorys, why would anyone purposely plant those things. I realize they have pretty flowers, but whoo wee those glory vines will choke everything out. Whenever I see them growing anywhere I don't want them, I turn my ducks loose on them and they eat them up. I wonder if the ducks would eat the Yucca?

Katherine

 

[Jake]

how about the person that brought thistles over?? that and I believe Cedars too.... talk about somebody that needed beating...

 

[Beefy]

there is a yucca in the sunset pic that i posted under that picture share thread i believe. I personally like them and we have tons but they can be weeds. Landscaping demand for yuccas has increased a lot int he last few years as there are more xeriscapes (drought tolerant gardens) and native landscapes. ive thought about digging upsome of them when they sprout from seeds and potting them to sell. if you cut the flowers off immediately so they dont seed that helps. and dig them up while they are little. they have extremely long roots and will come back if you dont get it all. never tried any herbicides on them but i doubt it would work. saw palmettos are another one of those native landscape "weeds" that are increasing in popularity as well. plus they are making healthy prostate tablets out of palmetto now. hard to transplant though.

 

[Vicky the vet]

Its like Morning Glorys, why would anyone purposely plant those things. I realize they have pretty flowers, but whoo wee those glory vines will choke everything out.

Katherine

Well, I've planted Morning Glorys. They don't have time to choke anything out here, since we have about 5 months max of growing season, then they freeze and die. And they don't seem to reseed themselves, so it's a pretty annual which can cover an ugly spot (like the neighbour's fence, for example...) Where I am now it's too windy for vines, so I haven't planted them in years...
V

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Vicky the vet wrote

They don't have time to choke anything out here, since we have about 5 months max of growing season, then they freeze and die. And they don't seem to reseed themselves,

Well, I know the border(for now) is closed to cattle, but is it open to Morning Glory seeds? I'd be happy to send you some, all kinds of pretty colors...whatever the ducks leave behind, and what I can find along the fences. These seem to do pretty well in wndy areas, we have alot of wind here at the foot of the mountains.

Katherine