Fight with interloping tree of heaven a constant battle

Q: In this photo is what I’ve been told is an intruder from the neighbor’s tree of heaven. It’s one of six or more popping up in my garden. Is there some way to stop them from coming under the wall and/or destroying them after they muscle under the wall? — M.B., Albuquerque

A: The only way I know to stop them is to, one, stop watering and, two, pour concrete. No, really — I too have this same trouble. It is a constant battle and these buggers show up in some of the most inconvenient places, like my roses.

What I do is pull and tug as much on the interloper as humanly possible. When I have physically removed as much as I can, and if there is root left, I liberally paint the fresh root with a glyphosate-based product and pray it’s absorbed into that length of root, maiming it so it fails. I won’t recommend a weed killer type product because if it gets picked up by a valued specimen, for me, it’s my roses, then I’d be disgusted with myself because it was me applying the wrong product.

As to a way of keeping the interlopers from coming under the wall, well, I haven’t figured that out. I know of no way to convince the mother tree of heaven from sending her root to a place where her young could thrive.

Since you use the word garden, I’m thinking you tend this space — meaning you water and perhaps fertilize — to keep the garden healthy. So the tree of heaven senses that and voilà, roots are sent out to help procreate her kind, also she could be throwing seed your way when she flowers. I will not suggest you apply a band of weedkiller or some sort of soil sterilant as a preventative along the wall because that sort of herbicide could work into your land and poison the whole kit and caboodle.

It’ll be a constant vigil on your part to watch for and dig out these interlopers as soon as they are sighted. Wish I had better news and if anyone out there has a better, neighborly suggestion, I’ll be sure and very glad to pass it along.

Q: My neighbor seed feeds the birds, and they come and hang out in my piñon tree off and on through the day. I really enjoy listening to them, and sighting some nifty looking birds is a bonus too. I would like to encourage them to hang around longer, but I don’t want to start feeding them too. Any suggestions? — B.W., Albuquerque

A: The best way to encourage the birds to come and hang out longer would be to offer water for them. The best part is, it won’t be expensive at all to create water-holders for the birds. I also enjoy helping the birds, and here’s what I do.

I have two stout, heavy, fairly shallow plastic 16-inch saucers that I keep on the ground for the doves mostly. I have added a couple of flattish stones sitting in the middle of these saucers so if a small bird needs a dry place to hang out they have one.

Then on a bench that sits under my tree I have a plastic lid from a pie tin that gets filled with water, and has a couple of smaller flat stones so any silly bees that come and stumble into these can save themselves.

Hanging near the edge of my patio covering, I have a hummingbird feeder that has lost its top. Filled with water, it makes a great place for finches and sparrows to get a drink.

Now here’s the secret. You need to maintain the water holders with fresh water. Daily, I rinse them out and fill them with fresh water. On the weekends I usually give the saucers a good washing in hot soapy water, which I believe encourages the birds to come and maybe helps keep them healthier too.

Try setting out some 12-inch or larger shallow trays or saucers, and I’m confident the birds will come and hang out longer for you.

Enjoy and Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.