Ground Elder

[Mags22]

Any quick and easy way to get rid of ground elder ? We have roses and one or two other flowers in the same space so maybe Round-Up would harm them if we try it - also the wee plot is gravelled over so hoeing would maybe be difficult

[coccinelle]

There is no quick and easy way. The best way is digging it up but if not and you're patient use a glysophate weed killer on each plant. After a week or so spray a second time. After a good 3 or 4 weeks you can pull them up but do wait to give it chance to get to the roots.

[hellywelly4]

If you break any roots, don't leave part in the soil, as it will re-grow. Awful stuff to get rid of, I helped a friend many years ago and he sieved each spadeful of soil to make sure he got all the bits out.

I don't know whether thick black polythene would help - left down for a long time, though.

[giveup]

I do sympathise, I hate bloody ground elder. I wage a constant battle with it. I have painted the leaves with the resolve that says two dabs,I've covered the whole of the plants. Will report back if it works.

[coccinelle]

giveup, you need to treat it twice if not it doesn't work.
Bindweed is the same problem....

[giveup]

How long between treatments?

[woofgang]

Treat, do not touch or disturb until its all dead and dry. Remove dead dry stuff. Wait for regrowth. Treat. Repeat cycle until you move house.

[Tilly2]

.................and buy a house that doesn't have ground elder in the garden.

[coccinelle]

giveup; treat a week or 10 days later. If you start treating early such as early May not all roots will be producing shoots so you need to keep a look out for new shoots and treat those twice too. It's a rather patient job but can be done. I've done this twice in two different gardens. However, I gave up in one garden where the ground elder was between the garden I was treating and the neighbour. It was fine the one year then of course came back. Possibly a deep plastic shield in the soil would have stopped it...

[cecil39]

I have that problem as well mags, also bindweed in the same bed, I have been digging it out for years and it always comes back, but, this year I am trying roundup gel, as I am no longer up to digging, its easy to apply and its early days , but I have high hopes, some of the ground elder is already looking a bit ropey.

[giveup]

I'm using roundup gel but putting on a lot more than they tell you. Its quite expensive though but might be worth it.

[Tilly2]

I put canes in for the bindweed to grow up. It is quite pretty, actually. Than I paint it with systemic weedkiller.

[Mags22]

Thanks for all your suggestions - will try the gel I think, then other plants aren't affected

[alavahalf]

I know it may sound a bit over the top, but if you steer clear of the garden centres and search online for 1lt of Rosate Glyphosate ... you will have enough weed killer to treat aprox 2000 sq. Mtrs of land. It should'nt cost more than £15 or so.
I used it last autumn and cleared everything that was growing on a derelict allotment including ground elder and bind weed.
I wont give you a link as I have recommended this stuff recently... but eBay is where I would start my search.

MAKE SURE YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND DONT TRY MIXING IT A BIT STRONGER...

My mixture ratio was 50ml to 5 litres of water... it's strong stuff.