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Best way to remove wild garlic

johnnypenstemonjohnnypenstemon Posts: 120
in Problem solving
Hi all

I need to remove a large and rapidly spreading colony of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) from a neglected garden. You can see a few of them in front of the wall in the photograph. The ground has nothing other than weeds currently – predominantly burdock and brambles with a touch of bindweed, all of which I can deal with.

I have tried digging Allium ursinum up wholesale in the past, but hordes of fresh bulbs sprout soon after, and over a wider area, presumably because I have disturbed the soil.

I know it's unlikely to be a quick process, but any tips or experiences much appreciated.

Thanks, Johnny

PS Removing a deep layer of topsoil is not an option, nor is eating all of them!


Posts

  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    I was going to suggest eating them!  They are lovely.
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    LauraRoslin said:
    I was going to suggest eating them!  They are lovely.
    I agree. Omlette your way out of that situation.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited December 2018
    That looks like Allium triquetrum aka Three-cornered garlic, rather than Allium ursinum aka Ramsons/Wilx garlic. 

    Still difficult to get get rid of tho ... i weed most of it out and tolerate/eat/enjoy the rest. 

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





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It makes great pesto so just keep cutting all the leaves for that and the bulbs will die of starvation - eventually.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    If you really have to get rid of it - which seems a shame - then your best bet is probably to sheet mulch it, but I would guess it'll take a long time - years, probably, before digging it over won't stir up a few fresh ones.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • AsarumAsarum Posts: 661
    I agree it looks more like Allium triquetum.  Pretty, but it is invasive and diffucult to get rid of.
    East Anglia
  • johnnypenstemonjohnnypenstemon Posts: 120
    Thanks for the replies, and for the identification Dove. I'll probably carefully dig up as much as I can then sheet mulch as Raisingirl suggests for some months. That should yield plenty for some scram over winter – the pesto sounds wonderful Obelixx.
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