How to get rid of gorse (Ulex europaeus) for good?

easyram

A friend of mine has a new plot full of gorse. She removed it 2 years ago but now it's back. The land is not cultivated in any way yet but she would like to start a garden this year. How to get rid of the plant for good? Or is it just a matter of spraying it and then when you put a new lawn, borders etc it will never come back?
And is the gorse a sign of any specific soil condition?

Thank you
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kindredspirit · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject:

Gorse likes sandy, gravelly soil, which of course Castletroy is built upon.

If she wants to get rid of any young plants, I'll take them!
I'm thinking of planting them in pea gravel around a low concrete wall.

michael brenock · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:42 pm Post subject:

the reinfestation is from seedlings. These will keep coming for a number of years after the parent plants are removed. They don't like constant mowing so this will get rid of them. They are bad transplanters.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

easyram · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:32 am Post subject:

Well she doesn't live in Castletroy and her plot is mainly full or rubble from the building site of her house. Gravely soil would probably be near the right description then Wink

And that's so funny because so many people want the gorse from her site. I love the plant too. And yet you can't actually pass the plot it's so dense so she hates it.
I'll try to keep a few young plants for you kinderspirit Wink

OK so I'll tell her to keep mowing and be patient.

Thank you both for the advise!

easyram

Grovey · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 11

I have found that the only effective solution is to rip them out with a digger and then watch for any seedlings that reappear and cut them with a blade strimmer or if possible a mower as soon as I see them . I have had no success with roundup as they seem to be immune to it.
Conor, Westport.

easyram · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:31 am Post subject:

And for how long have you been doing this now??? Hope not years... Is it on your lawn only? Or between other plants too?

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Grovey · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 11

I have a large site with some lawn and a lot of wild areas. I cut the gorse wherever I see them ie on the lawn, in the beds, rough areasor wherever. I have been cutting the gorse now for about 3 years and I am currently in control of them. Its no work to cut them when they are just seedlings, especially with the mower but if you let them get big they are tough to cut and have tough roots also.

easyram · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject:

mhm... OK thank you!