Content
- How to fight the Indian balsam?
- Do you have to fight the Indian balsam?
- Mechanically or chemically - which fight is more meaningful?
- The essentials in brief:
- Tips
The Indian balsam sells native plants and is therefore not always welcome
How to fight the Indian balsam?
It is with its pale pink to crimson flowers and a height of about two meters quite a pretty eye-catcher in the home garden, but also a sometimes unwanted intruder from Asia - the Indian balsam.
Do you have to fight the Indian balsam?
Opinions differ greatly on this point. While some people think that it is best to eradicate the Indian balsam in Europe, as it displaces native plants, for example, the beekeepers are happy that their animals can find nectar through these plants until the frost. Other bugs also use Indian balsam as a food plant
The answer, as so often, is probably in the middle. Meanwhile, the Indian balsam has spread very widely. If there is too much room in your garden, set boundaries. If your garden is big enough, you may want to leave some of the Indian balsam in a garden corner as a bee pasture. The seeds are even edible for humans.
Mechanically or chemically - which fight is more meaningful?
In Indian balsam, mechanical destruction is recommended. It is very easy to tear, especially on slightly damp ground. The earlier in the year they do this job, the easier it is because the herb is still small then. If it grows on a very large area, then you can simply mow it to prevent self-sowing and further spreading.
After the summer solstice, the Indian balsam begins to grow properly and grows to over two meters. Then the ripping is a tedious job. In any case, you should remove the Indian balsam before the flowering begins in July and the seeds develop. Because these remain germinable for several years. The balsam itself is one year old and dies at the latest with the first frost.
The essentials in brief:
Tips
If you have decided on the mechanical destruction of the Indian balsam, then it is best to tear it out before the seed is formed, otherwise it will accompany the herb for some years to come.