AboutDarlene K. Kittle Expertise I have been a Master Gardener for 20 years and I raise around 300 houseplants a year including tropicals, succulents, and cacti.
Experience She is also studying the Japanese art of bonsai with tropical plants and is President of the Fort Wayne, IN Bonsai Club.
Education/Credentials I am not a hortculturist. I am a Purdue University Master Gardener for over 20 years. I have studied plants on a personal level by growing hundreds of plants annually for the last 35 years. I have also studied under several nationally known American Bonsai experts.
Question Hi Darlene!
I live in southern Louisiana (Zone 8 borderline 9). I recently purchased a home, and the previous owner let the houseplants/outdoor/landscaping plants go WILD for 2 years. My main question, the back yard is FULL of Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens). It is growing up trees, fences, ground, cement cracks, anywhere there is a piece of ground, there is a plant. I REALLY need to get rid of it, as I am having a new fence put in and it is really a nuicense at this point. When I string trimmer it, it just grows back. It have thus far laughed at Roundup.( I even got the Poison Ivy formula Roundup). And, because there is no central "root" or "Mother Plant" I am at a loss. PLEASE help! I have ferns, doing the same thing. Poison Ivy where the leaves are 12 inches across. My jungle is out of control! Can you advise me in some way to tackle this project!
Thanks again so much!
Paul
Answer Paul,
I know of know short cuts for you other than a bull dozer. Maybe concentrated Roundup and don't dilute it as much as it calls for. I am fighting poison ivy in northern Iniana myself. You might call your local county extension office for some suggestions on killing the tropical weeds. Good luck.
