War on agapanthus has begun

Your report, Agapanthus — the native-killing exotic that’s tough to weed out (Jan 20), is perfectly timed.

This invasive plant is flowering now, along so many roadsides and in so many gardens around New Zealand.

As your reporter writes, it’s a major threat to native plants.

Clearly all territorial local authorities, regional councils and the Department of Conservation should include agapanthus in their 10-year pest-management strategies.

For my part, for several years,

I’ve been tearing the flowers off the pest plant wherever I walk, and urge your readers to do the same. CHRIS HORNE

Northland For some years now I have successfully eradicated agapanthus, both long-term established beds and seedlings, using TriclopyrGrazon herbicide.

The addition of glysophate doesn’t seem to improve the effectiveness of the spray, but probably nothing is lost if it is added.

A good wetting agent is essential.

There will be some regrowth from the roots of plants that have been growing for years; a follow-up treatment will take care of these, and the roots quickly rot down and disappear.

I was unable to find anything that was effective until Grazon was recommended. It was immediately obvious that the application was working, with the first spray. ALISTER TOMPKINS Feilding