Since we're on the subject of fence cleaning

[Cassandra]

I have goldenrods. I would swear some of them are ten feet tall. Like towering goldenrods!

They used to grow all over our pasture, but we've been mowing it this year. Now they are only growing along the fence. Is just pulling them up going to get rid of them?

I do hope to plant some things along the fence next year, btw.

Cassandra

 

[patandchickens]

No. They have complicated masses of roots that you can't pull up unless you excavate considerably and do a buncha forking/sorting.

However if you cut them at ground level now (thin canes are easier to remove from chainlink if you let them dry brittle first; thicker canes you're best off removing now while they are still a bit bendy) and then KEEP shaving them off at ground level next year everytime they get more than a couple inches high, they will eventually poop out and stop coming back. A breadknife (for small areas) or string trimmer (for large areas) is useful.

They're nothing like thistle or bindweed, I mean, but they do have pretty extensive and robust root systems and can come back from not very much.

Good luck,

Pat