How to Control Pachysandra

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Things You'll Need

  • Herbicide with glyphosate

  • Shovel

  • Roll of plastic landscape edging

  • Utility knife

  • Landscape stakes

  • Hammer

Pachysandra is considered an invasive plant by the USDA Forest Service because of its rapid growth pattern and ability to overtake other plants. Although some people use the plant in their landscapes, it can be difficult to control. Successfully controlling the spread of pachysandra involves a series of both manual and chemical control methods. When these methods are used, the pachysandra stays in the desired location and will not spread to overtake surrounding areas.

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Step 1

Pull up all of the pachysandra that is in an undesirable area using your hands. When removing the plant, grasp the very bottom of the stems as close to the ground as possible so that you pull up the entire root rather than just breaking off the stem.

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Step 2

Spray the ground that you just weeded with a herbicide containing glyphosate, which is an effective killer of pachysandra, according to the USDA Forest Service.

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Step 3

Dig a 3- to 4-foot wide trench along the outer edge of the area where the pachysandra is located. The trench should be approximately 6 inches deep so that is can accommodate plastic landscape edging.

Step 4

Unroll the plastic landscape edging and insert the end of it at one end of the trench. The "V" side of the edging should face down and toward the pachysandra planting location. Continue unrolling the edging until you reach the end of the trench and cut off the excess with a utility knife.

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Step 5

Insert a landscaping stake into the lower "V" of the edging approximately 3 inches from the end and position it so that it is almost parallel with the ground. Pound the stake into the edging using a hammer until completely inserted. Insert additional stakes into the length of the edging at 7-foot intervals.

Step 6

Fill in the trench with soil and pack it down firmly. Use your foot to stomp down the soil so that it is as compacted as possible.

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