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Re: Seed lists, AGS, Euphorbias, Banksias etc

Susan George asked:

My front yard is covered in kikuyu which is very difficult to
remove ( I have to get rid of it to continue making garden beds!!). I would
prefer not to use poisons but I have tried covering it with both thick
newspaper and plastic and nothing seems to kill it. I am now considering
Glyphosate (probably Round up).  Does anyone have experience in
successfully killing kikuyu?

Roundup loves Kikuyu! The droplets hold on to the slightly hairy leaves. It
allowed me to recapture native chaparral and dormant bubs covered by it.
Just be careful to apply. If you don't have a large area to clear just rub
it on for surgical precision.

On a less morbid topic you asked about Banksias:

In response to the earlier emails about banksias - no I haven't grown B.
coccinea but I do grow B. integrifolia, my locally indigenous banksia
(Mornington Peninsula, Vic, Aust) commonly called the Coastal Banksia. It
is not spectacular but it does grow into a substantial tree and has nice
candles (not showy) and wonderful long narrow (9x1cm?) serrated leaves that
are silvery white underneath. Does anyone grow B. robur? I have only seen
photographs but the candles (a metallic green) look great. Apparently it
likes water.

How large does your B. integrifolia grow?  Do you get much rain? I find it
is a very tough plant even with low rainfall, maybe even good as a street
tree. Seedlings do come up, but not many.

B. robur is another matter. Doesn't it come from areas where there is
surface water at times, even a swamp? In mistake I once left a hosepipe
dripping on it while I was away. When I came back after a month the plant
had put on more growth than in the previous two years. Its drinking habits
are a bit expensive for me.

Andrew
San Diego, California
awilson@fda.net
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