Q. I have a narrow area and the local Vegas nurseries
have Japanese privet However, I have read on various blogs that birds eat the
berries and they get dropped in other areas of the yard and gardens, sprouting
up all over. They say it is considered an invasive species in many areas. Have
you found this problem to be true and if so, is there anything that can be done
so that the plant will not produce berries?
have Japanese privet However, I have read on various blogs that birds eat the
berries and they get dropped in other areas of the yard and gardens, sprouting
up all over. They say it is considered an invasive species in many areas. Have
you found this problem to be true and if so, is there anything that can be done
so that the plant will not produce berries?
A. I have not heard this to be true in desert landscapes.
We can control most growth by controlling water. Where water is applied to
desert landscapes, these are the places where weeds and other unwanted plants
will grow. There are many invasive species in California and Florida that are
not invasive in home landscapes in our desert for this reason.
We can control most growth by controlling water. Where water is applied to
desert landscapes, these are the places where weeds and other unwanted plants
will grow. There are many invasive species in California and Florida that are
not invasive in home landscapes in our desert for this reason.
+compressed.jpg) |
| Leaves of Japanese privet under stress. Notice the curling, lack of density of the foliage and off color appearance. |
However,
invasive species can be a problem in persistent or perennial waterways such as
the Colorado River basin, washes like the Las Vegas Wash and irrigation
ditches. So you do have to be careful with invasive species but in the middle
of the desert with no such waterways it is not usually a problem.
invasive species can be a problem in persistent or perennial waterways such as
the Colorado River basin, washes like the Las Vegas Wash and irrigation
ditches. So you do have to be careful with invasive species but in the middle
of the desert with no such waterways it is not usually a problem.
During
the establishment period you would want to push stem growth as quickly as
possible with deep irrigations and light fertilizer applications about four
times a year. Pruning should be done about monthly during establishment and to
keep the trellis looking neat and trim.
the establishment period you would want to push stem growth as quickly as
possible with deep irrigations and light fertilizer applications about four
times a year. Pruning should be done about monthly during establishment and to
keep the trellis looking neat and trim.