About 2 years ago, my 25 year old Fan Palm went to seed. Tried to get the majority of the seeds away, but apparently didn't succeed too well.

Last year I did some major construction, which entailed trenching and moving a lot of dirt in the area of the palm. I landscaped the entire area. Putting down mesh and 1/4" decorative rock. Planted desert friendly plants**, but needed considerable spot watering to get them established. Recent heavy rains had saturated the ground and I now have literally thousands of palm sprouts popping up through the rock, and hand removal is getting tedious.

Are there any herbicides or other treatment that will kill them off, without damaging the other plants** in the area? They seem to laugh at Round-Up. Will just being careful with watering cause them do die out with the coming heat?

Arizona low desert dry climate, now in the '80s, but will be 110+ by mid June.

**Red Bird of Paradise
Aloe Vera
Purple Sage
Bouganvilla

Thanks in Advance.

 

Hi BoatCop


I ran across a tool 2 years ago & since I remove deep rooted weeds in my lawn & gravel drives it may work for you. This is a stand up, place over weed & then press down on the foot pad & the weed is poped up and out.
Link: http://www.hound-dog.com/weed_hound.htm

If your stone is not over 3/4 to 1 inch in size the Well built Weed Hound may be of help. I used to pop weeds with a hand tool I made, but after 2 burst discs bending for weeds is over.

With the spot watering idea the only problem I see is the palm is a desert survivor & if you don't at least cut the above ground part off, I think they will come back with rain.

We also got a 500,000 BTU LPG hand torch that can be turned up or down. Many people just burn the top off & the plant comes back as if it was cut only. If instead you wilt the plant 2 or 3 times, that plants hot water is driven into the roots, killing the entire plant.

Let me hear your thoughts.