My anemone is out of control. How do I get rid of it?

Q: We have anemone in our front garden. It has spread uncontrollably, and we want to get rid of it. We have tried digging it up, pulling the new shoots and spraying Roundup, all to no avail.

It’s not clear which species you’re referring to but I’m guessing that it’s probably the latter. The Japanese anemone, a graceful, ornamental herbaceous perennial with saucer-shaped flowers in shades of pink and white that appear on tall slender stems, is a staple of many Irish flower borders and is widely available to buy in most Irish garden centres. But it can undoubtedly become a thug if allowed to spread unchecked, to the point where some gardeners now regard it as invasive.

Eradicating it entirely will be challenging as it spreads by means of its underground rhizomes, which weave their way extensively through the soil, often meshing in with the root-balls of other plants and hiding in among paving, paths and hedges. Repeatedly digging out its root fragments will certainly do a lot to restrain it, but you’ll need to do so consistently and carefully for several years, while also trying not to disturb any neighbouring plants that you want to keep.

If it has reached the point where it’s completely overwhelming your front garden, another more extreme option is to turn the area over to lawn for a few years and keep it regularly mown. This should eventually kill the plants off as long as you’re vigilant in terms of removing any roots hiding in the crevices of nearby hedges, paving, walls or fences.

As an organic gardener, I don’t advocate the use of chemical weedkillers such as Roundup. But if you’re determined to use it, then it’s vital that you do so safely, wearing proper protective clothing and on a dry, still, not overly warm day to avoid drift.

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