Invasion of the Lily of the Valley

[asetwoman]

Our neighbors to the south, who have in the past proven to be not so nice, planted lily of the valley right next to the fence we share. I had forgotten they did this last year and that some of it came up on our side, and I didn't know it was so invasive. I can't take a picture at the moment because it's dark, but I'm pretty sure that's what it is

Comments

[lilachigh]

I'm fascinated to see a pic sometime. Is this the same lily of the valley we have over here in England? Small, green with white bell like flowers, wonderful scent? I don't think ours is poisonous and traditionally it will only grow in gardens when it likes you! Some people spend their whole lives trying to make it take in their gardens!

[momomom]

It's the same thing I'm pretty sure. Sort of like House Sparrows!

Personally I can't get enough of it!!!

[liminalia]

Yep, same plant and it is poisonous, but I have to say none of my dogs have ever been interested.

[bshai]

their whole lives?? O.O!!

my folks' grows under a pine tree (nothing else will) and started out as like a handful of plants and is now probably reaching a population of nearly 100... the neighbors' picking it doesn't stop it's attempt for world dominance! -I'd post a pic but it's just barely coming up now, green and brown shoots in a mess of brown pine needles is hard to see.

[trekkingkitty]

I like lily of the valley but I can understand not wanting it, depending on where it's growing. I hear it's very difficult to get rid of. I wonder if since it's being grown on your neighbors property, if you could treat it like a bamboo invasion.
What I'm thinking is to dig out as much of it as you can, back to the source and then at the point of the shared property line you can put a barrier several inches down into the ground so that it can't creep back over again. I don't think the roots go very deep. Maybe use something like that plastic lawn edging stuff?
I'm not sure but I don't see why that wouldn't work. I'm planning to do that here in an attempt at keeping my neighbors creeping weeds out of our yard and to keep the pachysandra I planted in one spot contained.

[liminalia]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too--dig out all the pips you can and then put a barrier under the fence.

[nancytoday]

How sad!

I would think if you dig down and put a barrier at the fence, you'll stop further incursion. I think you could use Roundup on the leaves of it. If you don't separate it from theirs before you do that, the plant may die on their side as well. But I'm not certain about this because roundup hasn't been as effective on further afield things I've wanted to get rid of in the past.

[angelchrome]

If you end up digging up that root mess you can probably give them away here. If you end up putting in a barrier, we'd love to see photos. It's sadly probably the only way to keep them from coming back on to your property and hard work to get installed if you're going deeper than say 3 inches (and you might have to aim for like 6 inches) but worth it to keep them out of your yard if you don't want them.
~Å~

Lilies of the Valley

[sisterfish]

I've been eyeing lilies of the valley all spring and wondering why they're so darned expensive...

Good luck. I know it can be frustrating when something you don't want is growing somewhere you don't want it too.

I think the barrier is probably your best bet. Growing up, we had masses of lilies of the valley, and I don't remember it ever being a problem for pets or kids. We'd just pick millions of them as bouquets.