One of the best garden climbers, bougainvilleas are well-liked everywhere there is a tropical or subtropical climate. Other than the typical purple, bougainvilleas also come in pink, yellow, and white, and some have variegated leaves. The true pale yellow flower at the center of a bougainvillea is surrounded by colorful papery bracts. Bougainvilleas are easy to look after once established.
Massive plants called bougainvillea frequently cover entire buildings and the tops of trees. The plant grips onto other plants with its strong thorns. The bougainvillea lacks a robust root system because it is not a free-standing tree like an oak that must support its own weight. If the ground they are growing in is disturbed in any way, the roots of bougainvilleas are prone to being long and brittle and breaking easily.
When the ground is disturbed, young, unestablished bougainvillea can suffer fatal damage if the roots break. If the plant is not killed, it will frequently enter a state of shock where it will not grow even in ideal growing conditions for many weeks. When digging near bougainvillea, caution should be taken because older plants are more sensitive and less likely to die outright from root damage.
In order to control their size and because they thrive in pots, bougainvilleas are frequently grown as bonsai. Repotting should be kept to a minimum because bougainvillea bloom best in pots where their root systems are constrained. If you must repot your bougainvillea, try to avoid disturbing the roots by gently breaking the pot from around them. If this is not possible, rather than just ripping the plant out of the pot, use a pallet knife to gently separate the roots from the pot’s sides.
Bougainvillea roots are also extremely sensitive to too much water. Even briefly submerged roots frequently experience stem or root rot, which can result in plant death. Avoid the temptation to tease the root ball free when planting a new bougainvillea in the garden in the hopes that the roots will be encouraged to grow more quickly because this will only lead to more broken roots.
According to preliminary research by the North Florida Research and Education Center, using pots impregnated with copper hydroxide encourages bougainvillea cuttings to develop a more fibrous root system, making the roots less brittle. For healthy growth and development, phosphorus is necessary for bougainvillea roots; feeding the plant a high phosphorus fertilizer will keep the roots as robust as possible.
How to Use the Foliar Method to Remove Bougainvillea Plants
The following factors must be taken into account before using the Foliar Method to remove a bougainvillea plant:
Because bougainvillea plants need very little water to survive, the herbicide may initially appear to have no effect on the plant. To kill the plant, you might need to apply the herbicide several times.
If you use an herbicide at a concentration that is too high, the plant’s conducting tissue will be destroyed before the herbicide can get to the roots. Because the roots are still alive, failure to remove them could cause regrowth.
What to Do with a Thick Bougainvillea Trunk
Some bougainvillea plants have very thick trunks. Consider injecting the plant trunk with an herbicide if you can’t cut it down to a stump. Use a hatchet to make several deep cuts into the trunk after removing the vines. Apply herbicide to the plant trunk with a spray bottle.
When blooming, bougainvillea is quite showy, but if planted in the incorrect spot, it can cause pain. It is not suitable for planting around walkways or entrances due to its long, thorny branches and large, shrubby shrubs. The warmer the environment, the more rampant bougainvillea grows. A bougainvillea can be difficult and painful to remove and kill. The bougainvillea should perish in a matter of weeks with a little pruning and diligent herbicide application to the stump.
Every two to three days, check the bougainvillea to see if any new growth has emerged from the trunk area. Trim away any new growth, and reapply the herbicide. After a week, reapply the product to confirm that the first application was successful and that the root system is being killed by the product.
When working near the bougainvillea, put on heavy-duty gloves made of leather, a long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt, shoes or work boots, and long pants like jeans. The plant’s branches have thorns all over them that are sharp and will stab you. You might also want to wear safety glasses if you’re working close to the plant in case a branch pokes you in the eye.