Wild hops are beautiful to look at, but they can also become a nuisance. Then you have to get rid of him. But how does that even work?
In addition to the real hops, which are mainly used for brewing beer or for greening facades, there is also the wild form, which belongs to the weed family. This wild hop grows mainly in areas with nitrogen-rich soil, such as near water bodies and parks, and spreads quickly and vigorously.
At two to six meters in height, the wild form remains much smaller than the cultivated varieties. Nevertheless, the wild hops are growing like crazy and driving some gardeners mad. No wonder, because it entwines all plants without exception. But you don't have to put up with that. It takes a lot of staying power to get rid of wild hops, but after a few years you will finally have peace of mind.
Perseverance and perseverance are required
To say one thing in advance: you will not have much success with wild hops with a weed killer. The whole power of wild hops is in the roots. And this is exactly what you need to work on. Otherwise you will have to struggle with wild hops for many years to come. Surely you don't want that.
» It is therefore best to proceed as follows:
If all parts of the plant have died by winter, you should first remove them thoroughly. Then you have to be persistent and patient, because from spring onwards you will have to pull out the pruning shears regularly. And always when shoots of more than 30 centimeters have formed. You always have to cut these off just below the ground. First of all, you will have the feeling that this measure does not achieve anything at all. But if you stay on the ball, growth will slow down significantly over the course of the summer.
Then the whole game starts all over again: first remove the dead parts of the plant in winter and then cut off all the new shoots again in summer. If you repeat this for three to four years, your garden will soon be completely hop-free. The important thing is that you stay on the ball.
Just whohas discovered a relatively small infestation in the garden, the plant can also be dug up and its roots removed. However, this is not possible with a larger infestation, since the roots reach deep into the earth and are usually widely distributed in the garden. If you pulled out a spade here, your garden would surely look like a battlefield afterwards.
By the way: wild hops are also edible
If you want, you can also eat the wild hops. When it blooms fresh in spring, you can steam and eat the tender tips of the shoots like asparagus.