Ground Elder

[OldSpeclkledHen]

I see from reading a few comments on other threads about those of you lovely lot that have the wonderful Ground Elder 😂

I moved into my home last year, first time garden (woo hoo!) but I pretty much left to it's own devices 😳 as it terrified me

So this year, I've made a start... but fear the ground elder has gotten away from me...

I've dug up loads (still plenty more!) but it's popping up in the lawn ... and around established plants...

How do you control it? What's the best method? I do understand it's a never ending task ... but would like ideas on the best way to fight the battle 😂

Tia 😁

I don't know but following with interest as like you I ignored mine for far too long. I'm not willing to dig up my established plants for it.

I dug loads out in spring a few years ago, as much as I could get of the root system etc. But now I just do a check every few days, if I see leaves I pull them out and try to get the roots too. Never letting it grow leaves, as soon as I see a leaf it gets pulled up, its had a huge reduction in how much it grows. Will follow to see if any better approach!

Mine comes from next door (lovely neighbours in every other way).

It’s a long term Cold War I’m afraid. I did dig out a huge swathe of it when I first arrived, it’s quite satisfying as you can follow the roots. But you do have to be very picky. And pounce on the regrowth.

Now I am very vigilant in spring and pounce where it comes up. My soil is much better so it’s easier to follow any roots back to the fence line. Where it gets among plants I either just rip off the tops with a bit of root and accept it will come back, or occasionally have a huge dig at a bigger area.

It is a bloody nuisance, as is the bindweed that next door are allowing to creep everywhere.

I think the problem with ground elder is that if you leave even the tiniest bit of root behind it will grow into a new plant.

I'm no great expert, but I once got rid of it entirely by spraying it with a systemic weedkiller before digging it out. It was the only thing that stopped it coming back, and it had been a losing battle before that.

My neighbour mixes weedkiller with wallpaper paste and dabs it onto the leaves (because it's thicker, it doesn't go everywhere), but I've always been too scared to try it...

I dug up as much as possible, and where there is a small outbreak I paint the leaves with glyphosate or other systemic gel.

I confess to leaning over my neighbours fence and spraying their vast expanse of weeds with Round Up

Thank You everyone!

Yes, it's satisfying to dig it up and track the roots back, but it's also a massive task!

Guess I'll tackle some more this weekend- and keep on top of re growth!