Rhubarb is a hardy perennial plant that can quickly take over a garden bed. Its massive leaves and red stalks look attractive at first, but soon it crowds out other plants. Rhubarb spreads aggressively via its root system. The roots continually expand underground, sending up new shoots.
If this vigorous vegetable has outgrown its space in your yard, you may be wondering how to get rid of rhubarb for good. There are several effective methods to kill rhubarb plants and their stubborn roots.
Why Rhubarb Spreads So Aggressively
Rhubarb plants grow from a central crown that stores energy and produces stems and roots. The crown continually produces new roots that expand outward underground. Any piece of root left behind can generate a new rhubarb plant.
Rhubarb also readily self-seeds if flower stalks are allowed to develop. The winged seeds spread on the wind and take root readily.
For these reasons, rhubarb can be challenging to eradicate fully once established. But with persistence using the right removal techniques you can rid your yard of rhubarb.
Physical Removal Methods
Digging Out the Roots
The most effective way to get rid of rhubarb is to dig up the entire root system. Use a spade or garden fork to loosen the soil and lift out the roots. Remove every piece of root you find, as any fragments left behind may resprout.
This method provides immediate and permanent results. But removing all the roots is labor-intensive. It works best for small plants. With larger rhubarb patches, try dig out sections at a time.
Repeated Cutting Back
Cutting the rhubarb stems back to ground level every time they appear can help weaken the roots eventually. Without leaves for photosynthesis the plant can’t generate energy to keep expanding.
Remove stems as soon as they emerge by twisting off or using pruners. Keep cutting back any new growth for several months. This alone may not eradicate rhubarb fully but will deplete the roots over time.
Smothering
Covering rhubarb roots with mulch or soil deprives them of light and air. Pile on 4-6 inches of compost or other organic mulch in spring, before the plants leaf out fully. The crowns need sunlight to thrive. Burying them deep disrupts growth.
Adding mulch every spring for a couple years may kill off rhubarb. Avoid nitrogen-rich mulches like grass clippings that could stimulate growth.
Chemical Removal Methods
Herbicides
Systemic herbicides that kill roots can eliminate rhubarb effectively Glyphosate products like Roundup are non-selective and will also kill other plants Apply carefully just to the rhubarb leaves in early spring before nearby plants start growing,
For large rhubarb patches, it may be easiest to mow or weed whack the area first. Then spray regrowth with herbicide. It may take several applications over two seasons to fully kill the roots. Always follow label directions carefully.
Bleach or Salt Treatment
Pouring bleach or salt directly on rhubarb crowns may damage the roots enough to kill the plant. However, this technique is not always effective and harms the soil. Use it only as a last resort in areas you plan to renovate completely.
What to Do With Removed Rhubarb Plants
If you dig up rhubarb roots, dispose of them in household trash, not the compost pile. Rhubarb crowns and roots can survive composting conditions.
Chop up plant parts to prevent regrowth. Or dry and burn stems and leaves if permitted in your area. Just make sure no pieces of root go back in the garden soil.
When to Remove Rhubarb
Spring and fall are best times for rhubarb removal in most regions:
- Spring – Plants are just emerging making roots easier to dig.
- Fall – New growth has stopped, allowing time for soil improvement before replanting.
Avoid mid-summer when plants are fully leafed out. Mature foliage makes chemical or physical removal more difficult.
Preventing Rhubarb from Returning
Rhubarb roots left in the ground may regrow for several years after removal attempts. Monitor the area and promptly remove any new shoots.
Installing a physical root barrier around the cleared space can block spread from surrounding plants. Rhubarb roots don’t do well penetrating tough surfaces.
Cover the ground with cardboard, plywood, or landscape fabric. Bury the edges well below ground. Be sure to remove any rhubarb inside the area first.
What to Plant After Removing Rhubarb
Before replanting in a rhubarb-infested space, improve the soil by mixing in aged compost or manure. This adds organic matter to balance the soil and break up remaining roots.
Wait 2-3 months after herbicide use before planting anything new. Test soil fertility and pH and amend if needed.
Then plant something fast-growing like radishes or lettuce first. This takes up any nutrients rhubarb roots left behind before it can fuel regrowth.
After the test crops, plantdesired permanent plants like flowers, shrubs, or other edibles. Keep area weed-freeand continue monitoring for rhubarb resprouts.
Enjoy Controlling Your Rhubarb Plantings
While rhubarb can be difficult to control in the garden, a well-managed small patch can provide years of tasty desserts. Plant in a pot or bed with a physical barrier to contain spread. Remove flower stalks to prevent self-seeding.
Divide mature plants every 5-7 years to rejuvenate them and give away extras. Then relax and enjoy the spring treat of homegrown rhubarb petioles for pies, jams, and sauces.
Rhubarb is hard to dig out – MASSIVE ROOT SYSTEM
FAQ
Is it hard to get rid of rhubarb?
Is rhubarb hard to kill?
Why do you put a bucket over rhubarb?
How to remove rhubarb from a garden?
How do you get rid of rhubarb?
Finally, you can get rid of rhubarb by using a non-selective herbicide. Non-selective herbicides that will kill rhubarb include glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup, Ortho and Eliminator products) and diquat (the active ingredient in Spectracide products).
Can one use green rhubarb?
Green rhubarb is a vegetable similar to celery. You can eat its stems. Its leaves are toxic, so you should not eat them.
Can rhubarb be removed?
The bad news is that it is by far the most physically arduous of all the methods for eliminating rhubarb. The crown of an established plant is only a shallow structure, but it is securely anchored into the soil below it by lots of strong roots.
How do you kill a rhubarb plant?
The crown acts as an energy store for rhubarb plants, so another way to kill the plant is by depleting the energy stored in the crown so severely that it is too exhausted to recover. You can do this by removing each and every stem that appears, until the plant gives up. Twist them out at the base, or sever them with a sharp knife or pruners.
How do you remove rhubarb from soil?
Dig around the base of the rhubarb stalk with a trowel. Rock the stalk back and forth to loosen it from the soil. Continue digging and rocking until you can pull the rhubarb out of the soil. Avoid pulling too hard, as you don’t want to snap the stalk. Instead, you want to remove the plant and all of its roots. Discard the stalk.
How do you keep rhubarb plants healthy?
To help prevent pests from damaging your rhubarb plants, it is advisable to care for the rhubarb plants in the best possible way to keep them healthy. Cultivate the soil around the rhubarb beginning in early spring.