Q&A – How do I remove Italian Arum successfully?
Question:
Our home's garden beds are being over-run with Italian Arum. The previous owner planted it has found its way into multiple beds and I am losing the war. How do I remove Italian Arum successfully? I've spent days trying to dig out by hand and it only seemed to make problems worse the next season. I am looking into herbicides that might work, although I remain hesitant to spray the worst areas which also have azaleas and mature Oaks in same soil. Please warn others to not plant this bully of an invasive species . . . Never!
Answer:
Italian Arum is an invasive plant and tough to get rid of. The plant has tubers that will regrow unless you dig-up the entire plant. The best way to get rid of it is to use glyphosate. If you need to avoid getting the chemical on a desirable plant nearby, TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond recommends wiping the glyphosate on the arum with a sponge. Italian arum has a very waxy cuticle, it is hard to get the herbicide to the green leaf. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says he had this problem. He cut the leaves off the plant and then wiped the stem with glyphosate. He said it took multiple applications to finally kill all of the plants.
Related Resources:
Italian Arum
Arum italicum
Our home's garden beds are being over-run with Italian Arum. The previous owner planted it has found its way into multiple beds and I am losing the war. How do I remove Italian Arum successfully? I've spent days trying to dig out by hand and it only seemed to make problems worse the next season. I am looking into herbicides that might work, although I remain hesitant to spray the worst areas which also have azaleas and mature Oaks in same soil. Please warn others to not plant this bully of an invasive species . . . Never!
Answer:
Italian Arum is an invasive plant and tough to get rid of. The plant has tubers that will regrow unless you dig-up the entire plant. The best way to get rid of it is to use glyphosate. If you need to avoid getting the chemical on a desirable plant nearby, TSU Extension Agent Joellen Dimond recommends wiping the glyphosate on the arum with a sponge. Italian arum has a very waxy cuticle, it is hard to get the herbicide to the green leaf. UT Extension Agent Chris Cooper says he had this problem. He cut the leaves off the plant and then wiped the stem with glyphosate. He said it took multiple applications to finally kill all of the plants.
Related Resources:
Italian Arum
Arum italicum