Why Some Weeds Might Be Better Left Alone

The plant known as porcelain berry vine provides food and shelter for wildlife and prevents erosion in sensitive ecological areas. Mike McGrath, host of You Bet Your Garden, will discuss the ill advised notion of spraying it with kerosene and why some weeds are best left alone. Plus answers to all your growing questions.

Question of the Week:

Arlene in Silver Spring recently forwarded us an email from a friend of hers named Nancy. It reads: “Look carefully at these photos of porcelain berry vine so that you can identify this awful plant. It showed up here in Montgomery County (Maryland) some years ago and started taking over. The vines you see draped over everything along The Beltway are porcelain berry. It produces enormous numbers of lovely little berries that the birds adore…and each one can become a new plant when those birds poop out the seed.

“If you see a young plant, pull it right away, because the roots become very strong after the second year and are very hard to get out. It looks much like a grape vine, and has tendrils that attach to other plants. They are like WIRES and hard to remove. If you already have an established plant, you may need to use an herbicide to kill it.”

Mike’s horrified response »