Posted on 06/10/2011 7:44:35 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
It's everywhere in the South. The green, winding vines of kudzu line highways, climb trees and fill backyards. It can be downright aggravating if you want to get rid of it.
Except if you're a sheep or a goat.
"They'll eat just about everything," Brian Cash, of Decatur, told the AJC.
As the owner of Eweniversally Green, Cash makes a living helping customers fight off kudzu, ivy and other weeds. His employees? About 100 four-legged friends.
"Primarily sheep and a few well-behaved goats," Cash, 30, said.
Unwanted greenery gets chomped away quickly when Cash brings his animals by. The sheep stay busy, but they don't mind. Plus, the change of location every few days is nice.
"The animals are on really good, lush food," Cash said. "It's like going to a fancy restaurant every day."
Although using livestock to control plant growth is common in rural areas, Cash said he's the only one with a business like his in Atlanta. He grew up in Dunwoody, nowhere near the country, but he's been interested in livestock since he was a child.
Since he started the venture earlier this year, both he and the animals have been busy, going from site to site all over town. Customers are asked to provide water for the animals and to wash all the greenery down. And Cash brings along a temporary, solar-powered fence that goes up quickly to prevent the animals from escaping or getting injured.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
But there are evidently enough of them to make Mr. Cash a lot of cash . . .
The entrepreneurial spirit at work.
HOW TO GROW KUDZU
by Tifton B. Merritt
All you beginning gardeners out there might want to consider growing kudzu as a fine way to launch out into the great adventure of gardening. Kudzu, for those of you not already familiar
with it, is a hardy perennial that can be grown quite well by the beginner who observes these few simple rules.
CHOOSING A PLOT: Kudzu can be grown almost anywhere, so site selection is not the problem it is with some other finicky plants like strawberries. Although kudzu will grow quite well on cement, for best results you should select an area having at least some dirt. To avoid lawsuits, it is advisable to plant well away from your neighbor’s house, unless, of course, you don’t get along well with your neighbor anyway.
PREPARING THE SOIL: Go out and stomp on the soil for a while just to get its attention and to prepare it for kudzu.
DECIDING WHEN TO PLANT: Kudzu should always be planted at night. If kudzu is planted during daylight hours, angry neighbors might see you and begin throwing rocks at you.
SELECTING THE PROPER FERTILIZER: The best fertilizer I have discovered for kudzu is 40 weight non-detergent motor oil. Kudzu actually doesn’t need anything to help it grow, but the
motor oil helps to prevent scraping the underside of the tender leaves then the kudzu starts its rapid growth. It also cuts down on friction and lessens the danger of fire when the kudzu really
starts to move. Change oil once every thousand feet or every two weeks, whichever comes first.
MULCHING THE PLANTS: Contrary to what you may be told by the Extension Service, kudzu can profit from a good mulch. I have found that a heavy mulch for the young plants produces a hardier crop. For best results, as soon as the young shoots begin to appear, cover kudzu with concrete blocks. Although this causes a temporary setback, your kudzu will accept this mulch as a challenge and will reward you with redoubled determination in the long run.
ORGANIC OR CHEMICAL GARDENING: Kudzu is ideal for either the organic gardener or for those who prefer to use chemicals to ward off garden pests. Kudzu is oblivious to both chemicals and pests. Therefore, you can grow organically and let the pests get out of the way of the kudzu as best they can, or you can spray any commercial poison directly onto your crop.
Your decision depends on how much you personally enjoy killing bugs. The kudzu will not be affected either way.
CROP ROTATION: Many gardeners are understandably concerned that growing the same crop year after year will deplete the soil. If you desire to change from kudzu to some other plant next year, now is the time to begin preparations.
Right now, before the growing season has reached its peak, you should list your house and lot with a reputable real estate agent and begin making plans to move elsewhere. Your chances of selling will be better now then they will be later in the year, when it may be difficult for prospective buyer to realize that beneath those lush, green vines stands an adorable three-bedroom house.
http://www.walterreeves.com/how-to-archive/how-to-grow-kudzu/
just throw the seeds on the ground and run like hell
just throw the seeds on the ground and run like hell
Sheep & goat poop...Dry it...burn it!
Excellent comments about the uses of kudzu.
A goat will eat the leaves but the stems will remain. So they ain’t killin’ it.
I use to raise angora goats and the fertilizer is the best. No odor, little pellets like rabbits and deer. My zinna’s would get to 5 foot tall and then flower...best garden I ever had. You only clean the barn floor once a year. Had quite a few, started with a small flock of 18 and 5 years later up to 75-80 goats....There are a few things goats won’t eat, one is wild mustard, I tasted one of the leaves and its bitter as the dickens...
LOL
One of the funniest uses for it I have seen was as a Halloween costume....the guy came as a bush...he tied long strands of it together in the middle put it on his head and had someone trim it around his feet. He walked around all night looking like a green cousin It.
Just close your windows at night to keep the kudzu out, lol.
Here’s a pretty thorough article on the topic:
http://www.maxshores.com/kudzu/
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