We have some land that is heavily covered with palmettos and we put up a temporary fence for our goats but they didn't eat the palmettos. (Only put them there 1 day, and they may have just enjoyed browsing on other greenery instead). Can anyone suggest another animal that might eat the plants? I realize this is only a temporary solution. But if the plants are eaten, what is a permanent solution to removing the palmettos?

-- Marsha / GA (CaprisMaa@aol.com), February 26, 2001

Answers

Go in and talk to your local ag agent about the problem. I suspect you would have to have the land commercially cleared (where the plants are torn out of the ground, and then windrowed for eventual burning or rotting). Perhaps afterwards goats might eat the new shoots, or you have have to use a specific herbicide.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 27, 2001.

I think we call the plant you are talking about by a different name where I'm from. Is it a real tough plant that the leaves are long and pointed and the base looks a bit like a palm tree. They also send up shoots with small white flowers once a year. If we are talking about the same plant then the only thing to do is bulldoze and go deep! I've seen these things take over a pasture. Goats won't touch em and a machette has a bit of trouble.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 27, 2001.

If this is saw palmetto, it has great potential as an herb to treat prostaate and other related "male" problems. Simply put an add in your local tree-hugger times (there's always something like that around) and offer free, pesticide-free (if that's true) saw palmetto you pick - you haul. You'll have to fight them off with a stick if you place your ad right.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 27, 2001.

Thanks for your responses. Local Agricultural agent is out of town. We just got firebreaks done, and have been waiting on a burn permit for 2 years now (I do not want to do it in summer), and these are Saw Palmettos which everybody has here and nobody wants! I know the thick, running roots are horrendous and must be destroyed or pulled up by tractor, but was hoping someone had an easier solution.

-- Marsha (CaprisMaa@aol.com), March 02, 2001.

If nobody around there wants them, I know many elsewhere do. Perhaps you could try to strike a deal with some sort of wildcrafting cooperative that is based in a less palmetto'd area.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), March 03, 2001.

This is an easyone Marsha; just put up an electrical fence, add a few wild hogs and stay out of their way. Throw in handsful of corn, enlarge the compound as the hogs do their job, and don't forget to water them. After the hogs tear up the palmettos put in a flock of chickens to fertilize, aeriate, and level your site.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), May 31, 2001.