How To Get Rid Of Invasive Alstroemeria? – [4 Methods That Work]

Do you want to get rid of invasive Alstroemeria?

Alstroemeria, also referred to as Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incus, is a beautiful cutting garden flower. This plant is from the Alstroemeriaceae family and is native to South America. Growing this plant is easy as you can grow the rootstock or plant seeds. Whichever way you grow it, the plant should grow quickly if planted in suitable soil and watered as needed.

However, getting rid of it from your garden can be problematic. This is because it develops a robust root system that is hard to remove altogether.

So, if you’re fed up with your Alstroemeria plant and want to get rid of it from your garden, then you’re in the right place.

But first …

What Are Invasive Plants?

Invasive plants are introduced from other regions, which spread like wildfire when introduced to a new area. Did you know that invasive species can cause environmental and even economic harm?

Because they are not native to the area, these invasive plants will compete with native plants for resources such as space, water, light, and nutrients. Invasive plants could even crowd out and discourage the growth of other species native to the area. They often thrive even on disturbed soil, have deeper root systems, and produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of other species of plants.

To keep this from happening, you must therefore know whether the plant is native or not. Knowing whether a specific plant is invasive will ensure native plants thrive and flourish. There are also laws in place that limit these invasive plants from spreading and damaging local ecosystems.

If you are found planting one in your garden, and it spreads out across your neighbors, you might find yourself prosecuted or find it difficult to mortgage your home.

So in this post, we’ve included ways to remove Alstroemeria from your garden effectively.

These are as follows:

1. Remove Every Piece by Hand

First and foremost, you should try removing the Alstroemeria plant by hand. Dig up the plant at the right time and eliminate all the roots. The best time to dig up the plant and remove the roots by hand is during autumn.

At this time, the soil becomes dumped and easy to work with. Since the soil is soft, you can dig up the plant and follow the roots without leaving a single piece. After you’re done, you should monitor the area where the plant was based in the spring.

If you see new shoots of the Alstroemeria plant, you should dig them up, so they don’t develop again. If you leave the plant to flower, it will produce seeds, and you will have to start all over again. Destroy the plant tubers as you remove the roots.

Repeat this procedure until you’ve removed any trace of the plant from the soil.

2. Use a Weedkiller

The second method is by using a weedkiller. If you’ve tried the hand or digging method to no avail, you should also try using a weedkiller. One of the most popular weedkillers to use is the Roundup weedKiller.

To eradicate the Alstroemeria, apply the weedkiller on the plant by smearing it using a brush or spraying directly. If the plant is alone, you can spray it, but if there are other plants close to it, you should smear the weedkiller. This prevents endangering other nearby plants.

For the weedkiller to be effective, wait until the plant produces a lot of foliage. When Alstroemeria produces plenty of foliage, the active ingredient (Glyphosate) in the weedkiller will be absorbed in massive amounts. However, you should apply the weedkiller at least twice to eliminate the Peruvian Lily.

The best time to get rid of Alstroemeria is mid to late summer when the plant has plenty of foliage and is about to extinction. Note that the results may not be instant until spring. So, exercise patience, and you will no longer have an Alstroemeria problem in your garden.

Make sure you select the best weedkillers, as some are ineffective. We’ve recommended Roundup weedkiller, as many gardeners applaud it.

3. Cut Down the Plant and Cover It With Black Polythene

Even though not very popular among gardeners, using polythene to get rid of Alstroemeria also works. However, this method is slightly cumbersome when compared to the first two.

Start by cutting down the plant to ground level. Next, pin down black plastic on top of the remains of the plant. To prevent the polythene from being blown away, keep it on the ground by placing bricks on all edges. This will prevent any shoots from escaping underneath and developing all over again.

Leave the black polythene on the surface for at least three months. The plastic on the surface will prevent the shoots underneath from accessing air and sunlight, which may promote their growth. Additionally, the polythene will cook the remains of the plant, which will eventually die.

After removing the polythene, check whether Alstroemeria roots remain in the soil. Proceed to dig them up and repeat the process.

4. Apply Weedkiller, Cut, and Cover With Polythene

The last method on our list is the combination of the three methods. If you’ve tried all the first three methods and the Alstroemeria doesn’t seem to die, then you can try this final method. The method includes applying a weedkiller and leaving the plant for a month.

As suggested earlier, you should use Roundup weedkiller or another quality weedkiller.

After that, cut down the plant and remove most of its roots and tubers from the soil. Again, you should follow the same method and get rid of the roots when the soil is soft and easy to pull out the roots. And if you suspect that some roots or tubers are still in the soil, cover the area using black plastic. The plastic will ensure that all the remaining tubers in the soil are deprived of oxygen and sunlight, making it suffocate and die.

Combining all three techniques is one of the most reliable methods of getting rid of the Alstroemeria plant.

Conclusion

We’ve made your work easy if you’ve struggled to eliminate the Alstromeria plant. Follow the methods we’ve included above, and you will successfully remove Peruvian Lilies from your garden. Note that any method you choose may not work on the first try, but you can repeat it to ensure success.

Furthermore, you can combine different methods to ensure a successful outcome. However, you must be patient as the Alstroemeria plant may never disappear entirely. Before growing any plant or flower in the garden, it is vital to find its ins and outs.

This will help you to avoid different problems, such as the ones caused by the Alstroemeria plant.