Ground Elder kill it to death or learn to live with it.

[Pipbin]

It completely dominated one bed last year that I hadn't yet got round to planting. This year I have dug the bed over and there is nothing planted there at all. In fact I have three beds with nothing in the but bastard ground elder.

I know that I could cover it with plastic for years and hope it dies off but I want to plant there this year.
I understand that the sodding stuff will grow back from the tiniest bit of root.

I'm thinking of doing the full 'belt and braces'. Dig through and seive out the roots as best I can. Then come back to it a week later and fuck it up good and proper with some weed killer.

Thoughts?

Ian - yes! Have PM'd you.

so have I Ian

You could try Tagetes Minuta as recommended by Sarah Raven:

www.sarahraven.com/flowers/seeds/annuals/tagetes_minuta.htm

Disclaimer: haven't tried it myself, but it's a bit healthier than glyphosate. Having said that I have used Roundup in the past, but faced with your situation would give this a try.

Hello Ian.
I've dug most of it up!
My worry about using weed killer is that I don't like to use non organic methods if I can avoid it and I have a cat.

Same question, another year! Does anyone still have a ground elder problem? I am looking to trial different types of RoundUp against ground elder and will pay to try and kill your ground elder!
Thanks, Ian

Hello Ian
I have some in a small area where there are other lovely things growing especially at this time of the year. What would you do?