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Help!!! Ground Elder Invasion

ianventrisianventris Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Hi, I have a large burst of ground elder. I’ve tried roundup which is having a small effect. But there is so much and the effect so small. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with such a large outbreak? 
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  • CamelliadCamelliad Posts: 402
    edited April 2021
    I had a bed that was completely covered in the same way as yours. I went over the whole area with a planting fork to loosen the soil, then I got down on my hands and knees with a hand fork and a dandelion weeder and gently pulled out each piece, tracking the roots as far as I could. It was very therapeutic, except when the roots snapped. I did it obsessively over two summers and the bed is now clear.

    I don't know - it probably wasn't the most effective way to clear it. It certainly wasn't a quick fix but it is very gratifying to see it completely transformed now, so I would say it was worth the effort.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Roundup takes a while to work as it has to get down to the roots so it may just be a question of time. If, after a week or two, there's no difference, respray again. Ground elder is very persistant so you may have to keep respraying every now and again.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    If  you have nothing better to do with your life, remove it by hand. If you have better things to do, use Roundup, carefully, as directed.
    Devon.
  • CamelliadCamelliad Posts: 402
    @Hostafan1 if you consider mediating between fighting children "better things to do" then I agree, but otherwise, I think you mean "If you want an excuse to take yourself off to a corner of the garden for a few hours and avoid fighting children...."

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Camelliad said:
    @Hostafan1 if you consider mediating between fighting children "better things to do" then I agree, but otherwise, I think you mean "If you want an excuse to take yourself off to a corner of the garden for a few hours and avoid fighting children...."

    I agree on the meditative process of hand weeding, but , methinks a patch like OP's constitutes a " career move " to tackle by hand. 
    Devon.
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    I don't think it will assist the problem in this case but out of interest has anyone had success with covering areas affected by Ground Elder to exclud light?

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    My guess is that there will be plenty of elder on the other side of that fence. 
    A 2 pronged attack by both neighbours would be the idea situation
    Devon.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    No, because it sends out runners which find  the light.

    I would dig out the bulk then zap any new shoots with Roundup. Roundup can take 3 weeks and ground elder needs doing a few times, it's quite resistant.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    alfharris8 said:
    I don't think it will assist the problem in this case but out of interest has anyone jhad success with covering areas affected by Ground Elder to exclud light?

    My sister did this but was advised to make sure the covering extended well beyond the edge of the ground elder and that the edges were completely weighted down, otherwise the elder will simply find its way to the edges and re-emerge there. She hadn’t a lot of room so did dig it over and weed out what she could before covering it. She was advised to leave it for two years before using the area, which she did and it has worked.

    We cleared an area by hand, like @Camelliad, we went over it thoroughly left it clear for a few weeks and then went through it again. Does take time to do thoroughly.
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Scuse spelling. I know exclude has an e on the end. I just haven't had my second cup of tea yet 😂
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