Tips for getting rid of invasive Bear's Breeches in the garden

[TheKatzKlaws]

Has anyone successfully dealt with Acanthus mollis (Bear’s Breeches) in their garden? My parents have a virulent patch in their front garden which has taken over. They paid someone to get rid of it previously but it came back not long after. My husband has offered to help with it but I'm worried all his digging will be in vain as it just propagates it.

Any tips are welcome 🙏🏻

Crikey - send it my way. I would love some of that!!

Spray the leaves with Resolva. Repeat when new leaves appear. You will eradicate it but it takes perseverance

It's so beautiful but it is such a bugger. It has taken over. Your welcome to come and dig it out! 😂

I would say the same with any problem plant. Dig it out, being as careful as you can to not break roots, remove all parts of that plant that you can see and dispose of. You'll get to know the roots well. If you can keep the soil that came off the plant separate for a while you'll easily see any small bits coming through. Any new bits that grow in the original location you can dig up or hoe weekly to weaken it, but digging would be my preferred option.

I'm currently trying to clear a border of loosestrife, helianthus and couch grass that are very intertwined. It's not a quick job but I can see the results in the bits already cleared (which I am keeping clear meantime) and is certainly worth doing.

They paid someone to get rid of it previously but it came back not long after.

Some gardeners don't want to do a 'once' job, they, like all of us, need a steady income, so they won't necessarily try to get rid of it properly. Also not all people doing gardening work have the necessary knowledge for a particular job. I'm not casting aspersions, just pointing out possibilities. But some plants are just utter twats that need dealing with and it's worth the time and effort to do so properly.

Good luck! 🍀