I would love to discuss a perennial that performed well this year or share photos of an ornamental grass that is putting on a show right now.
But that is not happening today.
Today I am notifying you of a plant that I will be eradicating. Yeah you heard me, eradicating. It’s not enough to transplant it elsewhere or chuck it on the compost heap. We are in full eradication mode. Operation Eradication if you will.
Chasmanthium latifolium, commonly referred to as Northern Sea Oats or NSO if you are on a character limit, has pushed me to the brink and I’m ready to end our relationship.
I loved this plant /grass at first and even sang its praises in a post from a few years back.
Then after witnessing its love of reseeding, I attempted to control them by cutting them down in the fall.
Well, that didn’t curb NSO’s desire to spread its wings so I am done with it. NSO should stand for:
No one
Should
Own
Sure, the “oats” are fantastic from summer into fall:
And I’ve managed to hide the mess these have been making since early spring, but with the leaves now falling off of the shrubs and perennials it has become even more evident that the party needs to end.
Case in point:
Reseeding in front of the more mature NSO’s:
Hiding within Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’:
Getting way too comfortable under Astilbe:
Trying to battle Amsonia:
I’m not anti “pull every individual weed by hand”, but it is impossible to grab these and get the entire root system. A trowel is required for each and every one. Not happening.
So within the next week, I plan on pulling all of these out, lighting them on fire, stomping on them with my shit-kicking boots and then lighting them on fire again. I realize I’ll be doing more of the same in the spring, but at least I’ll know I am on my way to a permanent cure.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
John
Uh-oh…I planted a bunch of Chasmanthium this year. Well, we’ll just see how that works out. I guess I’ve been warned…
We had to do that to some pampas grass… burning didn’t do much.. but pulling it out with the tractor and burning it again finally got it all out…
When we first moved into our house we had to get rid of a Pampas grass growing right next to the house, my dad cut it down with a chainsaw and we tried and tried to dig it out to no avail, so in the end after months of trying to get rid we had to poison it. Hopefully you won’t have to go to those lengths!!
Totally invasive! I’ve been pulling it for the past two years. I don’t know if you’ve tried Golden Japanese Forest Grass, but this is one I truly love and wish it would spread faster!
Oh yes…it’s one of those plants that lures you in with its subtle charms…and before you know it, you’re inundated with its offspring. It’s funny how we’ve all had it happen with one plant or another…and we always try to defend it at first…but gradually our resolve gets worn down!
Haven’t had this problem with NSO. Mine usually last a little while and then get bullied out by other thugs in my garden. Your garden must simply suit it better. My rampant re seeder is Impatiens glandulifera. I always let a few stay though because they are very pretty and fill in all sorts of gaps.
I haven’t had this problem with Northern Sea Oats either. Maybe it’s one of those plants that is only aggressive in certain parts of the country, because of climate differences. It is rather ugly at this time of the year, though. It’s one of those plants that has ugly legs.
Alison, I’m glad to see your comment because it expresses my thoughts as well. But I’ve never seen anyone else comment about how ugly it looks right about now. It IS looking bad–makes me feel less conflicted about pruning it down.
I still love it, but I do keep it isolated where it can’t easily spread into crowns of other plants. I may change my tune some years from now. We’ll see.
Wow I’ve never had a problem and I’ve grown it for years. I do cut it down right about now though, because it’s not an attractive winter grass. Plus the “oats” look great in a vase.
Hi danger garden- I too, will cut them down about now, because of drab foliage
and strip the leaves off the stems leaving the oats to make a nice dried flower
arrangement with them!
paint with glyphosate, spray might get to other plants. Should kill down to the roots.
Thanks for posting this. As a newbie gardener, I was impressed by it when I saw it at Longwood Gardens during the early fall and thought it would make a beautiful fall plant, but now I’ve been warned!
You should be on “Just For Laughs”…
Honestly…you are hilarious!!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
nice for posting this article much information and interesting for all people regards..
Can’t grow it, you covet it.
One of the chosen few who can, you know people envy you.
Everyone can grow it, you’re bored.
That plant spreads itself everywhere in your yard, and you hate that weed.
Perfect example of the right plant for the right place. Northern and Southern Sea Oats are perfect for what they are most commonly used for, holding something back. Like near the oceans, in sandy areas that need stablizing. Southern Sea Oats do the same thing around here but Northern Sea Oats are curtailed by the hot summers down here. The climate you have there is PERFECT for those NSOs, so here they come. A bit too much in some cases. If the plant does not have a natural enemy, it will take off, as in your case with NSO. Live and learn. You are doing a great job, keep it up!!!
Thanks for the warning John .. I had considered this plant for a while.
My gardens are too small for handling a potential thug
I love ornamental grasses and have a few .. but this one is off the list now !
Joy : )