Ground Elder

[originalang]

Hi, for lots of reasons we haven't been able to spend much time on our garden which isnt very big, consequently we are overwhelmed with ground elder now. We would like to turn the garden into something we would enjoy sitting in. We know its a big long term job to try and eradicate the stuff but would appreciate any advice you can offer please. My hubby works away and would like to employ a part time gardener to revamp and maintain it to give me less to do but I'm wondering if its a waste of money at this stage, they're surely not going to be able to plant anything while the ground elder rages. Thankyou so much, dont know whats best.

[landscaper2]

Keep hitting the ground elder with Monsanto Roundup during the summer and hopefully by next spring you will have got on top of it. If not keep at it!

[LoftyLottie]

Landscaper2's advice worked wonders for me with my 1/2 acre garden? I still get the on bit that struggles up after three years, which I zap with Roundup (the remaining bits that come up are much weaker now). or just nip the leaves off. Considering the hedgerows and verges all around us are full of the stuff I feel quite pleased with myself.

[originalang]

Thank you both of you, Ill give it a go. Can I bother you for a bit more help please, novice here you see. Should I be doing any digging up as well? Is it worth me ringing a gardener or am I throwing money away while we could just be tacklng this problem first ourselves for this year, hubby's set his heart on a nice garden this Summer but cant see it myself. I really appreciate your help.

[showcatbenga]

As you say your garden isn't very big, could you go for a low maintenance style garden? Hitting the ground elder with weedkiller as suggested would give you a good start before doing some major hard landscaping.
No, don't dig it up because the ground elder roots are fleshy & very brittle. They break up & each little piece will grow to become a new plant. Covering the ground with a weed proof membrane will help after the first few proper die-backs of the elder. Excluding the light will effectively finish the job of killing the elder once the top growth is killed off.
Then employ your gardener to lay gravel & or paving to create an area to walk & sit. Containers & or raised beds with imported soil would also give you a weed free 'instant' start but will be expensive. You will get better value for money investing in the bones of your garden rather than chipping away at it. Lawns, while lovely to look at, require a lot of care & time. You would have to ensure that practically all the elder was killed before trying to establish a lawn from turf or seed.
If you check out some of the best 'instant garden make overs', the most successful start with the least promising sites but require really good hard landscaping. Keep asking - we'll keep answering!

[originalang]

Many thanks for your advice showcatbenga. think I'm going to hit it with the weedkiller through the summer then maybe try the membrane. Should I leave that down during the autumn/winter then? We have got a lawn with the border round which is where the ground elder is raging, you've got me thinking now, any hint of the elder in the grass would spread to the borders again wouldn't it. We've got a dog so theres not much point of paying for new lawn to be laid while she's around. Oh think I've got a real challenge on here. Thanks again for taking the time to help.

[terambulan]

I got a good tip from a polish gardener but you must be very careful. With deep rooted plants which must be permanently removed you burn them. The polish man threw petrol on the site and whoosh..... all gone! If its near your house DONT DO IT else you may burn the house down!

[originalang]

Ooh thanks terambulan, think the surrounding fences would be in danger of becoming an inferno and next door would never forgive me if their beautiful courtyard garden is damaged