grape hyacinth elimination

Question

Please – how to get rid of all those tiny bulbs. They love it here in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Invasive is a small word for how they crowd out wonderful plants, like roses. Already I’ve spent hours removing bulbs and I’m tired. They came in the beds voluntarily – probably by a vole or some such? Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Really, the only way is to be diligent about digging them up. Remove any flowers that the remaining ones produce to keep seeds from spreading and when you dig them up, make sure you have gotten all of the bulblets that were attached to the mother bulb.

You can spot treat with Round-Up or boiling water but be aware that both herbicides will kill any plant material it touches, such as surrounding grass or plants that it splashes on.