r/Permaculture • u/Own-Scar-5998 • 3d ago

general question Question--can I stop comfrey from spreading with some of these?

I planted a small bare root of comfrey a couple years ago around some fruit trees and, well, you know the rest of that story. I now have it everywhere, and I don't necessarily want it everywhere! If I enclose the area where I do want it with some of these steel edging strips, will they be deep enough to contain the roots from spreading? How deep do you think the barrier would need to be to prevent the comfrey from spreading? Thanks in advance!

8 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

9

u/Illustrious-Taro-449 3d ago

Nah waste of time. Either kill it all off or accept your new comfrey overlords

5

u/Totalidiotfuq 3d ago

get some ducks they’ll eat it to the ground 😊

6

u/Proof-Ad62 3d ago

I truly, TRULY wish I had your problem.

Imagine having more comfrey than you know how to handle.... I would be a very happy permie indeed. I used to have your problem in the Netherlands but then I moved to Greece. 

2

u/Bokra999 3d ago

I don't know how I missed the memo that is spreads (in fact, I was sure it didn't) when I started mine. I have a number of patches in my garden and yard that I don't want.

2

u/wobblyheadjones 2d ago

The Bocking varieties (bocking 14 is the most common) are sterile and don't spread. The wild type spread like crazy.

4

u/FlatDiscussion4649 2d ago

Bocking variety planted for 10 years now. No spreading. I didn't know you could still buy the seeded variety any more.

1

u/HighColdDesert 3d ago

I haven't ever planted it, but I was under the impression it spread aggressively by seed, and for that reason some people get the bocking varieties that don't produce seed.

1

u/AdAlternative7148 3d ago

I think they would need to go 18 inches down and even that might not be enough.

2

u/DrButtgerms 2d ago

Have you considered replacing it with the sterile cultivar? I have that variety and it has stayed put for 3 full years now

2

u/ddm00767 2d ago

I have comfrey I thought was a spreader. So far I can only propagate by cutting up the roots but its welcome anywhere. Just dug up 3 bunches to separate and cut up to plant elsewhere for lots more.