Can I reclaim this garden space?

tam91 · November 10, 2011

Not sure if this is technically soilbuilding, but was my best guess where to put this.

In my search for an extra garden, my friend is suggesting that we possibly might reclaim a garden space in her yard. The problem is - it's full of sumac.

From what I can tell, one has to cut it, and then put brush-b-gone or something like that on the stumps. But, they won't be actively growing now so - I guess we'd have to wait until spring?

Then, lets say I do that in early spring - I wonder if the ground would be safe to put tomatoes in. Plus, I'm sure there would be some sumac roots left.

Any thoughts? Does this sound hopeless (at least short term)?

Iva · November 11, 2011

You have to cut and spray it now! The roots are pulling all the nutrients down for 'reserve' in the fall, so the 'brush-b-gone' would get to the roots and destroy the plant from within...

tam91 · November 12, 2011

Thanks - I could try maybe. But it's already freezing here - that'd still work?

The instructions say to spray while the plant is actively growing, which these certainly are not.

tjg911 · November 12, 2011

i think it is too late because the plants were storing nutrients at least 6 weeks ago if not back in early september. all the sumacs here are dormant now having dropped their leaves in october.

tom

fortyonenorth · November 12, 2011

Frankly, I think you're going to have a hard time getting rid of the sumac and establishing a tomato-ready garden bed all in the Spring. Sumac is tough to eradicate and brush-b-gone doesn't kill it immediately. I use it regularly on oriental bittersweet and it takes weeks to work. Sumac suckers a whole lot, too, so you'll have to make sure it's confirmed dead before you start hacking it out. If you're set on this particular space, it might be more reasonable to get rid of the sumac in the spring, plant a cover crop in the summer/fall and then plan for 2013 tomatoes.

tam91 · November 12, 2011

That's kinda what I was afraid of. Unfortunately, the possible offer of this space just came up. And drat, another spot that I thought would work isn't going to do garden plots this year. Sigh. Well, I'll have to find somewhere - all this land around, surely SOMEONE will rent me a little piece.

With the Sumac - will I have to dig out all the roots, or will they just decompose? (or poison the tomatoes, and me....)

fortyonenorth · November 12, 2011

Ask a farmer in your area. Offer him/her a small amount of $ or a cut of the tomato harvest. A corn farmer would probably love to have a bushel full of heirlooms.

tam91 · November 12, 2011

I'm happy to pay a bit, and share some tomatoes (I'm sure I'll have more than I can use if they grow well).
I'll have to scavange around for a farmer. The farmer I know grows tomatoes in addition to his corn. He does grow some heirlooms though, so maybe he'd give me a spot to check out some new ones. Also, there is a sod farm here with lots of land - I'll actually try that next probably, hopefully there's some tomato lover there.
Thanks for the farmer idea though - if these ideas don't turn out, I'll go "farmer hunting".

November 10, 2011	#1
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Can I reclaim this garden space? Not sure if this is technically soilbuilding, but was my best guess where to put this. In my search for an extra garden, my friend is suggesting that we possibly might reclaim a garden space in her yard. The problem is - it's full of sumac. From what I can tell, one has to cut it, and then put brush-b-gone or something like that on the stumps. But, they won't be actively growing now so - I guess we'd have to wait until spring? Then, lets say I do that in early spring - I wonder if the ground would be safe to put tomatoes in. Plus, I'm sure there would be some sumac roots left. Any thoughts? Does this sound hopeless (at least short term)? __________________ Tracy

November 12, 2011	#3
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Thanks - I could try maybe. But it's already freezing here - that'd still work? The instructions say to spray while the plant is actively growing, which these certainly are not. __________________ Tracy

November 12, 2011	#4
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i think it is too late because the plants were storing nutrients at least 6 weeks ago if not back in early september. all the sumacs here are dormant now having dropped their leaves in october. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

November 12, 2011	#6
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	That's kinda what I was afraid of. Unfortunately, the possible offer of this space just came up. And drat, another spot that I thought would work isn't going to do garden plots this year. Sigh. Well, I'll have to find somewhere - all this land around, surely SOMEONE will rent me a little piece. With the Sumac - will I have to dig out all the roots, or will they just decompose? (or poison the tomatoes, and me....) __________________ Tracy

November 12, 2011	#8
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I'm happy to pay a bit, and share some tomatoes (I'm sure I'll have more than I can use if they grow well). I'll have to scavange around for a farmer. The farmer I know grows tomatoes in addition to his corn. He does grow some heirlooms though, so maybe he'd give me a spot to check out some new ones. Also, there is a sod farm here with lots of land - I'll actually try that next probably, hopefully there's some tomato lover there. Thanks for the farmer idea though - if these ideas don't turn out, I'll go "farmer hunting". __________________ Tracy

November 11, 2011	#2
Iva Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Slovenia, EU Posts: 249	You have to cut and spray it now! The roots are pulling all the nutrients down for 'reserve' in the fall, so the 'brush-b-gone' would get to the roots and destroy the plant from within...

November 12, 2011	#5
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	Frankly, I think you're going to have a hard time getting rid of the sumac and establishing a tomato-ready garden bed all in the Spring. Sumac is tough to eradicate and brush-b-gone doesn't kill it immediately. I use it regularly on oriental bittersweet and it takes weeks to work. Sumac suckers a whole lot, too, so you'll have to make sure it's confirmed dead before you start hacking it out. If you're set on this particular space, it might be more reasonable to get rid of the sumac in the spring, plant a cover crop in the summer/fall and then plan for 2013 tomatoes.