Expert: Long Island Gardener - 10/8/2006

Question
Zip Code - 94066

I have a small garden area where the previous owners had a garden we did not like. I ripped out the garden which had vine-like plants. After I tore it all out, I broke up the dirt to recieve the potted plants we wanted here. I noticed there was a bunch of little bulbs that were appearing in the dirt. I planted our plants anyways and am now regretting it. Now we have endless amounts of the ivy-like green leaf popping up EVERYWHERE. I have already tore them all out once (all the way to the bulb), and now they are coming back in higher numbers. Our new plants are flourishing and I don't want to tear them out or kill them. Is there anything I can do to kill the bulbs that are still in the dirt without killing the new plants? Please note, since our plants our recently planted there is still plenty of room between plants to spray something if needed. Thanks for your time.

Answer
Oh, dear, I fear you are considering the "R" word when you say: "plenty of room between plants to spray..."  Was that RoundUp you wanted to use?

Heavens forbid!

I would love to answer you - but your sunny California location is telling me that you deserve better, as I cannot figure out what the vine you can't get rid of is.

In the meantime, like all New Yorkers, I have an opinion about everything, so let me register my official opinion on this but please consider it a best guess as I am not qualified to opine on your vine:

I believe the best solution is to REMOVE the new desirable plants you have added, in fact, REMOVE EVERYTHING that you love back there that grows, and then DESTROY the stuff that's left including those mini-things that are causing the Attack of the Small Bulbs all over your new garden.

There ain't nothin' like a new garden in a new house.

Tearing them out, no.  Lifting them, yes.

Then you can put plastic down in your sunny California garden for a month - preferably 2 months - solarize your soil, kill everything in sight and move on with your life.

When you're done, you will have an lovely, nontoxic garden that even Ahnold would love.

There's steps for solarizing.  If you want the procedures, I can give you that, or you can google.  If you want to RoundUp, however, let me know and I will give you all the side effects that will quickly change your mind.

Sorry I'm not knowledgeable about California.  But boy do I wish I could be.  Nick, You lucky duck!