Devil’s walking stick produces beautiful, late-summer blooms, but its thorny stems can be a huge hassle. It also spreads like wildfire and can be difficult to control. So how do you get rid of devil’s walking stick when it’s taking over your yard?
Eliminating devil’s walking stick permanently is no easy task, but it’s possible to do using a variety of methods. The most effective is to spray glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup) at least three times on the entirety of the plant. Another way to eradicate the plant is to cut it down and regularly remove new growth. Applying a layer of cardboard and mulch can help speed up the process.
Want to know more about how to get rid of devil’s walking stick? Keep reading to find out.
How To Get Rid Of Devil’s Walking Stick
Devil’s walking stick thrives in a variety of conditions. In fact, it can even crowd out other trees and plants until it’s just about the only thing growing in your yard. This can be a nuisance with any plant, especially one that is covered in thorns. So how do you get rid of it and keep it from coming back?
Unfortunately, it can be a long and laborious process to get rid of devil’s walking stick. However, if you go about it in the right way and stay consistent with your methods, you can clear your yard of this spiky plant.
Using Chemicals To Kill The Plant
By far, the most effective way to get rid of devil’s walking stick is to apply several rounds of glyphosate. This is most commonly known as Roundup. For it to completely remove the devil’s walking stick, glyphosate needs to be applied at least three times within about a month’s time. This will kill off any new growth that pops up.
When applying glyphosate, it’s very important to cover the entire plant—stem, branches, and leaves. Anything left without being sprayed may turn into new growth. Do your best to avoid spraying other nearby plants, since glyphosate will kill any plant it comes into contact with.
Using Manual Labor To Remove New Growth
A more natural approach to removing devil’s walking stick is to cut down the plant and consistently remove any signs of new growth. You can put down a layer of cardboard and several inches of mulch to help prevent the plant from having access to the sun, but it’ll still do its best to keep growing for quite some time.
While this is a chemical-free method, keep in mind that it’s incredibly labor-intensive. It will work eventually, but you’ll need to be dedicated to cutting out any new growth as soon as it appears. Eventually, the plant’s energy stores will be depleted, and it will die.
Final Thoughts
To get rid of devil’s walking stick, you’ll need plenty of motivation and the right tools. However, if you follow these steps to effectively kill off any new growth, your yard will eventually be freed from this aggressive plant.
