How to kill gorse bushes please

[Deleted User]

I have some horrible gorse growing on the top of my riverbank that I'd like to get rid of,

Does anyone know the best way to kill it and the time of year to do it please

Many thanks

Farway

I suspect that given it's location, near a river by the sound of it, your only recourse is digging it out due to possible chemical run off into the water course the likes of Roundup are a no no

I stand to be corrected of course

sheramber

Tough as old boots. Here the crofters cut it back to the ground but it still grows back. It grows back after being burnt to the ground in the hill fires.

Only way to get rid of it is dig it out.

TheGardener

Gorse can be used in land management for holding soil and banks - make sure the river bank doesn't erode if you remove it unless you have something suitable in mind to replace it?

DaftyDuck

Get a goat!

Seriously, I'd be very loath to kill it, as it may well be serving a useful purpose. Keeping it cut (or munched) well back may be the better option.

There are very rigorous restrictions on the use of most weedkillers along or near watercourses, and the Environment Agency are surprisingly sharp. Around here we have aerial survey by helicopter and drones on a regular basis.

I'd strongly suggest just cutting it back as the best solution. It's very good for wildlife, especially bees. And goats! As a keeper of both goats and bees, I can recommend both. Sadly, I don't have gorse, but do have river banks.

Willow is my nemesis.... Grrr....

[Deleted User]

Thankyou everyone, I do like goats Daffy however I have been put off them as they are escape artists and in this particular field could get out anywhere if they had a mind to.

There isnt so much that its holding the bank up and it has been vigorously cut back before but keeps returning.

Maybe a digging job over winter, thankyou for all your advice.

ampersand

About to post a fig ? and noticed your post.

There is an old adage 'Never marry when the gorse is in bloom'.

I think you'll realise what's being said - and written by a Capricorn :-)

Mojisola

ampersand wrote: »

There is an old adage 'Never marry when the gorse is in bloom'.

I think you'll realise what's being said - and written by a Capricorn :-)

And another "Kissing is out of season when gorse is out of bloom".

Justagardener

I suspect that given it's location, near a river by the sound of it, your only recourse is digging it out due to possible chemical run off into the water course the likes of Roundup are a no no

I stand to be corrected of course

Just for interest. Round up can be used as an aquatic herbicide..alway check the label of course.

Farway

Justagardener wrote: »

Just for interest. Round up can be used as an aquatic herbicide..alway check the label of course.

I think that is the problem really, would kill all plantlife in a river, but would be good I suppose for a contained pond clear out