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How To Control Your Neighbor’s Passion (vine)

August 02, 2009

Plant Information

Dear Arboretum Plant Information,

Last year our neighbor planted passion fruit vines on his side of a retaining wall that separates our properties.  They’ve been very prolific and are constantly climbing over the top of the wall and onto our side. We politely asked him to keep the vines trimmed, which he did, but our problems still weren’t over.
 
Early this month we noticed a few young shoots popping up on dry hard compacted dirt on our side of the wall & in the cracks of a bricked patio floor which is flush against the wall.  I tried using Roundup Weed & Grass killer a few times (streamed & foamed during some 80-mid 80 degree sunny weather) & later noticed that they were still growing (i.e. green & thriving).  Initially the portion above soil seemed to die, but after a week, the shoots came back.  I haven't sprayed any more since then & am waiting to let them grow long enough to match the growth on our neighbor's side. How do I get rid of these plants?
 
Signed,  Passionate in Pasadena


Dear Passionate,

What’s probably happening is that the vine is sending out shoots from its roots. Spraying Roundup seems like a good idea, but it does present some problems:

  1. Treating the shoots may kill your neighbors vine. Since the shoots that you are spraying are basically the same plant as your neighbors, spraying an herbicide like Roundup that is absorbed by the entire plant before it starts to work could result in not only the shoots you are spraying dying, but your neighbor’s entire vine dying as well.

  2. Roundup takes a couple of weeks to show results. You’ve just sprayed these plants, give the Roundup some time to work.

  3. Applying Roundup when it’s too hot will result in the plant’s tissues burning. Scorched plant tissue does not absorb Roundup, so the plant does not perish. You should apply roundup when the temps are below 85 degrees F.  Preferably in the early morning when temperatures are low and any breezes are at a minimum. Errant exposure to Roundup spray can cause plants like roses to become deformed; even from minute amounts of Roundup.

  4. Treating expanding shoots with Roundup can be futile; this is because the flow of nutrients in the plant (Roundup has to be taken up into the nutrient stream to be effective) should be in a direction towards the roots for Roundup to be effective. A newly expanding shoot has little capacity to make food, its expansion fueled by a nutrient flow with a net direction towards the tip of the shoot. So what you need to do is allow the shoots to grow until they are about a month old, and then spray them when temperatures are below 85 degrees F.  This is because after a month the ability of the plant to make food for the plant is much higher than when it first started expanding and therefore an effective dose of Roundup will be delivered to the entire plant…which, like I mentioned above, may include your neighbors plant too.  

  5. So, how do you get rid of the shoots if you have decided you don’t want to kill your neighbor’s passion and not to use Roundup? Simply snap off the new shoots as soon as they appear.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum Appoints Richard Schulhof as CEO

August 07, 2009

Press Releases

News Items

Richard SchulhofLOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden announced today that Richard Schulhof has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer at The Arboretum effective in early October.

A native of Los Angeles, Schulhof comes from Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum in Boston where for the last seven years he has served as deputy director. Prior to that, Schulhof was Executive Director of Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Previously he completed horticultural internships at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino and the Mildred Mathias Gardens at U.C.L.A.

Schulhof has an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture from U.C. Berkeley and masters degrees in public garden administration from the University of Delaware and forestry from Harvard.

Schulhof has created new programs supporting science education in both Boston and Los Angeles schools. Through collaboration with school districts and private foundations, his programs have offered teacher training, field trips and in-class instruction. Working with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Park Service, he has launched programs interpreting historic landscapes.

Russ Guiney, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, expressed his strong support and enthusiasm for the selection. "When the search committee began its comprehensive national search a little over a year ago, we were seeking an inspiring and dynamic leader with a commitment to excellence, a strategic thinker. While there were several very qualified candidates, the search committee unanimously endorsed the selection of Richard Schulhof, recognizing his deep passion for the natural world, extensive institutional experience, and demonstrated scholarly expertise.” Burks Hamner, president of The Arboretum Board of Trustees expressed “the Board of Trustees is looking forward to welcoming Richard, whose vast experience and knowledge will enhance and expand our existing programs.”

Schulhof brings to The Arboretum a strong commitment to public education and a strong interest in serving urban communities. “Finding new ways to bring the fascination and beauty of plants to greater Los Angeles is the aim,” Schulhof commented. “I am most honored to accept this important position, and I look forward to working with a very dedicated community—staff, volunteers, the trustees, the County Parks Department—to help more people discover this magical place.  With fascinating plant collections, a magnificent landscape, and remarkable history, the possibilities are unbounded, and I look forward to working to realize The Arboretum’s potential and goal of becoming one of the world’s truly great public gardens.”


MEDIA CONTACT:  Cynthia Vargas Marketing/Communications Dept. 213-700-0700 cynthia.vargas@arboretum.org

Images for this press release:

Image 1: Richard Schulhof

 

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