getting rid of Melastoma candidum

[Lee M-S]

I call them pink glory bush.
I'd like to get rid of these, they're everywhere.

What if I just cut them down and let them rot?
Will it all spring back up from the roots?

How fast do they grow, and how long do they live?

We've had our house for about 7 years, and the same ones seem to about the same size, except for the big one that blew over in the hurricane.

><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >(>

[kalakoa]

Will it all spring back up from the roots?

A little Crossbow on the stumps will prevent this from happening.

[Rene Siracusa]

If you don't have Crossbow you can use Rodeo or any Garlon product or Ortho Poison Ivy Killer on the stumps. The important thing is to apply the herbicide while the cut is fresh - preferably within a few minutes.

Sometimes the thick branches will root if left lying on the ground, so either take them to the green waste pile at the transfer station or pile them up off the ground where they will get full sun or cover with a tarp to keep the rain from helping them set roots until they die. Smaller branches can be dried out, broken up and composted or go to green waste.