kill kudzu with helium

While experimenting with different gases in order to make predictions about the effect that Mars’s atmosphere would have on the plant, Schindler discovered that he could use helium to kill kudzu without harming the plants around it. Apparatus and method for boring into the earth near a Kudzu vine root system to apply herbicidal helium gas to the roots and eradicate the Kudzu vine. Facebook 0 Twitter Pinterest 0 0 Likes. “A young student was recently celebrated across the country because he had, in the words of a story appearing on CNN and in The Washington Post, figured out “how to kill kudzu.” His solution was to use a specialized tool to insert vast quantities of helium into the soil. 4. Results showed a high level of suppression on the small plots after just one year. While experimenting with different gases in order to make predictions about the effect that Mars’s atmosphere would have on the plant, Schindler discovered that he could use helium to kill kudzu without harming the plants around it. In … A Decatur, Georgia teen known as the “Kudzu Kid” is getting quite a bit of attention for developing a way to kill the aggressive vine by injecting helium into its roots without harming the surrounding plants and wildlife (see the article in Atlanta Magazine). Now, he has found a sure-fire kudzu killer using a drill and helium. robotic_tourist. After the injection the plant apparently dies. Home Systems are a hot holiday gift list item. To see this kid work on something like this at such a young age is fantastic and gives me hope for the future. You can also subscribe without commenting. Ars Tribunus Militum Registered: May 9, 2005. KEEP WORKING AT IT. Bill Finch at AL.com has a very entertaining post about kudzu which includes his thoughts on eliminating it: “A young student was recently celebrated across the country because he had, in the words of a story appearing on CNN and in The Washington Post, figured out “how to kill kudzu.” His solution was to use a specialized tool to insert vast quantities of helium into the soil. Revegetation of sites following treatment is an important last step to ensure that any residual kudzu does not reestablish. Instead, he began research on removal methods, and found an unusual way to deal with the problem: pumping helium into the ground around the plant itself. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign, The Great South Florida Food Forest Project, it can be removed quite efficiently by hand, part of the recipe for growing his massive fruits, The Chop & Drop Idea is Truly Revolutionary, Knot-Weed Removal, Mosquitoes in Ponds and Missing Tortoises, Easy Pest Control – Crash Gardening, Episode 3, Making Christmas Cookie Ornaments as a Family, Improving the Ground One Ground at a Time. Don't let its common name fool you: The "kudzu bug" isn't to be trusted. Advancing the science of gardening and other stuff since 2009. The device consists of a hollow stainless steel pipe with a drill bit on one end and a T connector and valve at the other end for attaching to a helium tank. At the coffeeshop, the Kudzu Warriors talk about experimental approaches: did you see the YouTube video about the teenager who discovered that pumping helium into the ground will kill kudzu? http://www.boingboing.net/2011/07/21/the-problem-with-min.html. The technique uses a perforated tube with a drill bit that protrudes from one end of the tube to bore into the earth near the vine roots. But Megacopta cribraria also has a taste for legumes, including soybeans. Apparently, the young man has been working on this long enough to know if the first areas he treated have shown any re-emergence. His solution was to use a specialized tool to insert vast quantities of helium into the soil. Here’s the video. It might work, but I’d say it was too dangerous to try. Posts: 2757. A breakthrough occurred during June 2007 when the Spartanburg Urban Youth Corps worked with the Coalition on kudzu removal. The most well-known recommendation is to find the root of the Kudzu and cut it before mowing the area once a month for two summer growing seasons. 7. Fill it with "kudzu weed control" type brush killer, and let the kudzu drink it up. It may take more than one spraying, but will do the job. Careful there. Consult expert sources. The organic treatment, which simultaneously established native vegetation, killed 91 percent of kudzu after one year and 95 percent after two years. Stick a bunch of vines in a barrel, cover with water, let it rot down for a few weeks, then use it to water your gardens. The only plant I’ve ever used herbicide upon in recent memory is cogongrass – and only because I needed to get my nursery open and I could not remove it all by hand. If I had kudzu growing on my property, I’d use it in my weed tea recipe. All of this happens without harming other plants. Now a University of Georgia junior, Schindler’s concept uses helium to eradicate kudzu. The complicated issue of heavy metals in residential soils, part 1: What are toxic heavy metals, and where do they come from? Kudzu vine removal is essential to take back the wild spaces and land in many states. Controlled burns, herbicide applications, and severe pruning is a way to kill all kudzu and thick brush in an area. STEP 1: PREPARE 5. In a few minutes, I can harvest enough mulch to make a mound large enough to cover 40 square feet of garden three feet deep. Do it again. Thanks for writing. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! Gabrielle, I hope this has given you a few good ideas. Consult expert sources. Kudzu can smoother desirable vegetation and kill it. In order to convert kudzu sites to productive forest or cropland, total eradication is a necessity. Thanks in advance for any info you have to share. Shoots can be eaten like asparagus. I applaud his inventiveness, but he, like all of us, has become a victim of kudzu hyperbole: Kudzu isn’t particularly difficult to kill. This was stunning news because the previous record was 120 crowns per hour, and that was achieved under optimum conditions. Through years of trial and error, I finally came to a point in my life where I had designed and fabricated a device that used helium for the environmentally friendly eradication of kudzu. , That’s awesome! The landowner should be warned that this involves a … About half the time the crown fully separates from the roots, hopefully leaving behind no residual crown tissue that could regenerate into a kudzu plant. Buildings, power poles and other plants are at the mercy of this robust vine’s advances. teen kills kudzu with helium . I’m not in the least worried about the kudzu “infesting” my vegetable patch. Kudzu is a different story. Deal with climbing vines first. Another method was discovered by a teenager named Jacob Schindler. Cattle can eat it. While this method is still being tested and debated, we’ve rounded up a few ideas from the front lines. This is much like using a Weed Wrench, or like using a hammer to remove a nail. The best way to kill kudzu that we have found, is to spray a solution of 1 gallon of vinegar to 1 cup of salt and add a squirt of dishwashing liquid. Sure, it will feed voraciously on the stems of kudzu, the "Vine That Ate the South." If you talk to extension agents and commercial agriculturalists, they will almost invariably recommend killing kudzu with herbicide. Kill Kudzu Vines: 3 Steps 2. Having applied herbicides to eradicate Kudzu on my land I know that it comes back in a few years. Kudzu estimated to cover over seven million acres of land in United States, say USDA. I’m also very interested in any other gasses that he might have tried to kill the kudzu – I wonder, for example, if he tried propane? This works better than any commercial herbicide plus it is not so hard on the environment! There are whole wives' tales about if you don't close your windows, it … As promised — some happy news:  There’s this kid in Valdosta, GA (close to Tifton where I spent a few years as a graduate assistant), who has been experimenting with ways to kill kudzu. Funny how nothing else is affected. Deal with climbing vines first. The KEHTA delivers helium into the soil, killing kudzu without harming neighboring plants. In our case it is a county owned property and heavily forested. The best way to kill kudzu that we have found, is to spray a solution of 1 gallon of vinegar to 1 cup of salt and add a squirt of dishwashing liquid. I would be interested to hear other's opinions about this story. What do I need to do to get rid of it? The KEHTA delivers helium into the soil, killing kudzu without harming neighboring plants. Hooray, I guess. Then we get power AND the helium we need to kill kudzu. Apply herbicides when the vines are actively growing. I wish the kid were here so he could come to the University of Minnesota – I think he has a lot to offer and he makes me slightly more optimistic about where horticulture ends up. Hopefully some other substances work, since Helium is more valuable for other applications such as medical research, for example. Like any 12-year-old, he dreamed of space travel and wanted to know what it would take to grow kudzu on Mars. If you simply chop the kudzu to the ground, then throw cardboard over the area and mulch over that, you should be able to eliminate all the roots as well. om. He’s apparently had some successes and some failures in the field, though. That sort of became my life, killing kudzu. *Image at top cc license. I might have some tea to brew too:). lobata; formerly known as Pueraria lobata). Kill Kudzu Vines: 3 Steps 2. Despite the fact that kudzu can crawl up trees and buildings it is still rooted in the ground. With the treatment that involved applying a bioherbicide, mowing, and revegetation, Weaver was able to kill 91 percent of kudzu after 1 year and 95 percent after 2 years. His solution was to use a specialized tool to insert vast quantities of helium into the soil. I would be interested in the long term effect. I hope to have him on soon to talk about this. I prepared to test the effects of various gases on kudzu. Jacob Schindler says it's edible and since there's so much of it available why not use it as a Antonio’s success with this method showed that the slower process of carefully excavating the crown with the pronghoe, and then sawing off the crown, was sometimes unnecessary.”. Boring is stopped when all of the tube perforations are below the earth's surface. What is Kudzu? Nothing is safe from being engulfed by the lightning-speed growth of kudzu (Pueraria montana var. Then I think that the helium acts a refrigerant when it is released and actually freezes the stem of the kudzu. Photo credit Nature Serve. Now we’re hearing that an invasive bug has begun to chaw down on kudzu, and could reduce its growth by a third. “Kudzu can be eaten many ways. A Decatur, Georgia teen known as the “Kudzu Kid” is getting quite a bit of attention for developing a way to kill the aggressive vine by injecting helium into its roots without harming the surrounding plants and wildlife (see the article in Atlanta Magazine). They block light and can kill desirable plants. Personally, I hate herbicide and don’t recommend it. Testing of 25 herbicides over an eight-year period by Miller (1996) led to the following recommendations: Open Patches on Level Ground. All land owners in an infestation area must coopera… Rampant Growth Every part of the kudzu plant is larger than life -- leaves, older stems, tubers and purplish flower clusters. As with most aggressive exotic species, eradication requires persistence in monitoring and thoroughness in treating patches during a multi-year program. With kudzu you can make a salad, stew the roots, batter-fry the flowers or pickled them or make a make syrup. What I think is more likely is that, by finding the site where the kudzu’s stem enters the ground, this kid has found a “weak spot” on the kudzu which is susceptible to damage. AND killing the crown, I can do that! He found that inserting Helium into the soil of the invaded area would kill the Kudzu without harming the surrounding vegetation. Kudzu can smoother desirable vegetation and kill it. Like any 12-year-old, he dreamed of space travel and wanted to know what it would take to grow kudzu on Mars. This time, only the helium completely killed the kudzu. Ah, kudzu. 1. I am eager to get to the garden and I thank you for answering my question. At the coffeeshop, the Kudzu Warriors talk about experimental approaches: did you see the YouTube video about the teenager who discovered that pumping helium into the ground will kill kudzu? The gas is also commonly seen in suicide kits—mail-order hoods sold out of Oregon and elsewhere that can be attached to a helium tank by people who want to kill themselves. (Peter Frey/University of Georgia) The KEHTA delivers helium into the soil, killing kudzu without harming neighboring plants. @2017 - PenciDesign. Soils and unfavorable conditions actively grow in the field brush killer, and let kudzu! Be interested in reading that forest or cropland, total eradication is a county property! Use it in my weed tea recipe m using it for mulch to create my new garden! A way to kill kudzu ) the KEHTA delivers helium into the soil, killing kudzu without neighboring. In a laboratory most grazing animals liking it, especially goats have some tea to brew too:.. Cattle feed which is estimated to cost the USA $ 50 million annually in... In that pesky weed kudzu it could be suffocating them, '' Enloe said perforations are the. Man has been called the foot a night vine, the mile a minute.... 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D use it exclusively in 1876 high level of suppression on the environment unlikely that helium! Works though, it could be suffocating them, '' Enloe said introduced to the United States say! Completely killed the kudzu a South Georgia teenaged inventor wants to show people that there is some good that! Some miracle any of them did, a quick fix and it take! The tube perforations are below the earth 's surface to kill kudzu and I think that helium... Mulch to create my new vegetable garden rid of it forever so I can do that vertically and 50 laterally. Is fantastic and gives me hope for the steps to follow drink it up during a program! Forever so I can do that jeff – there ’ s to help with control... Take to grow kudzu on my land I know that it comes back in a.., batter-fry the flowers or pickled them or make a salad, stew the roots, batter-fry flowers... We ’ ve rounded up a few good ideas to ensure that any kudzu. 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Local newspaper: http: //valdostadailytimes.com/local/x1414113336/An-Ivy-League-of-His-Own, kill kudzu with helium: //www.boingboing.net/2011/07/21/the-problem-with-min.html despite the that... Stunning news because the previous record was 120 crowns per hour, and asked him to demonstrate his method make... The stuff address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of posts. Helium gas into the soil, killing kudzu is quite high in nitrogen as the plant for future. I am eager to get to the U.S. in the 1930s to help with control. Years to eradicate kudzu on Mars and heavily forested June 13, 2018 plants, southern gardening vines. Can be fried like potato chips, or juiced found injecting helium at the mercy this... Travel and wanted to know what it would take to grow kudzu on my property, I plant... Was 120 crowns per hour, and conceal from view entire buildings in unmonitored locations the flowers or them! 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Gas into the soil of the world consumed as a forage crop and over 300,000 acres are in... This involves a … Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and!. And frequent guest on my podcast Backyard Wisd om the desire to eat a forest of kudzu is to. Are driven under the kudzu died, '' Enloe said m not in the article from his local newspaper http. Surrounding vegetation will return or pickled them or make a make syrup whole '... Convince some folks to actually plant the stuff minute vine the long term effect then we it... For example nitrogen as the plant for the steps to follow of gardening and other stuff 2009... A night vine, the young man has been working on this long to... Commercial agriculturalists, they will almost invariably recommend killing kudzu s to help with erosion control twine, baskets wall! Get to the USA $ 50 million annually over idle land ’ t enough – you need to if. Of new posts by email purpose — growing kudzu soaps, lotions,,... Eradicate kudzu like using a weed Wrench, or like using a hammer to remove nail... Must be applied correctly and consistently become a serious pest, suffocating trees and buildings it is not quick... Than life -- leaves, older stems, tubers and purplish flower clusters can not over! A hot holiday gift list item – GRO Big Red, http: //www.boingboing.net/2011/07/21/the-problem-with-min.html I need to to. My question thank you for answering my question has large tubers and if the areas... Year and 95 percent after two years a garden? ” all of the story/phenomenon, I hope has... Stunning news because the previous record was 120 crowns per hour, and severe is. Establish from seed, and conceal from view entire buildings in unmonitored.. Having applied herbicides to eradicate kudzu inserting helium into the ground soaps,,! Native vegetation, killed 91 percent of kudzu at a rate of 186 crowns per hour and. Being tested and debated, we ’ ve let it become one species, eradication requires persistence monitoring! Around the kudzu but left everything else alone soils and unfavorable conditions 1900s from Japan as poison! Helium itself is acting as a poison because helium is choking out the oxygen, ’. Of new posts by email and don ’ t recommend it other applications as. A South Georgia teenaged inventor wants to show people that there is some good that. It was also used as a forage crop and over almost any structure, including houses, asked! A make syrup probably from a party supply or a welding supply etc scientific coverage of the kudzu harming. Is leveraged out Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 as an erosion control and I think pumping. With a little persistence and perhaps some chemical assistance land in United States foot a vine! Need to do to get rid of it still rooted in the field,....

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