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ground elder

Nicola.isabel.stevensNicola.isabel.stevens Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi

I have ground elder in my garden beds.  The area has no plants in it but no matter how much I weed the area, it keeps coming back.  I have now covered it with some weed control to see if it stops it coming back but not sure if this will help.  It has also managed this year to get into the lawn.  Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

Posts

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    glyphosate weed killer is the only thing I've found to get rid of it fully and permanently,

    you have to find how it got onto your plot? did it come under the fence from a neighbours? if so then you need to bury some weed membrane  upright as a barrier to it stopping coming back in.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    This winter put in a vertical membrane (the sort sold to contain tree roots) to stop it coming in, as said above.  Then in the spring two or three good attacks on fresh growth with glyphosate will deal with it.  

    This is the sort of membrane you need  ... lots of suppliers on t'internet 

     https://www.externalworksindex.co.uk/browse/category/3-214/type/13/Root-barriers/Products/ 

    If you don't want to glyphosate the lawn then really regular mowing will weaken and eventually knock it on the head ... but there'll always be the risk that it'll rear its head again.

    Last edited: 16 October 2017 09:55:10


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nicola.isabel.stevensNicola.isabel.stevens Posts: 3

    Thanks so much for the tips I was thinking that weed killer will be the only option to go.  Will get the upright membrane too as I also have tree roots coming in from the neighbours garden.

    Nicola

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    the gel glyphosate stuff works well for stuff in the lawn,

    I use a paintbrush to transfer from the applicator to the leaves, that way you reduce the amount of collateral grass killing that happens, just remember not to walk on the lawn for a day or so, otherwise you can track it elsewhere.

  • Nicola.isabel.stevensNicola.isabel.stevens Posts: 3

    Thanks treehugger80, I sprayed it before i saw your post when the weather was dry.  I tried to contain it and it seems to have worked quite well.  When it comes back, which it will, I will use your paintbrush technique.

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