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Rhubarb vs Ground Elder

NoSlugsPleaseNoSlugsPlease Posts: 120
in Problem solving
A neighbour gave us 3 clumps of rhubarb a couple of years ago, which we have planted together in a cluster. Unfortunately, their ground elder has also hitched a ride over. It's grown between/around the rhubard and can't be dug out without digging out all the rhubarb. I wouldn't mind getting rid of the rhubarb but my husband wants to keep it; he thinks ground elder is no worse than the weeds we already have (nettles, creeping buttercup). I know our neighbour has been trying to dig out their ground elder for over 10 years.
If we were to pull up the bits of ground elder showing above the ground, will the rhubarb will eventually smother the ground elder? Or is that just wishful thinking?
Thank you.

Posts

  • TimmyMagicTimmyMagic Posts: 135
    Wishful thinking. Get rid while it's still possible.

    I've been battling Ground Elder for years now. 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    If you dig up all the rhubarb and clean out the ground elder yes you wont have a harvest next year but if you can really clean the elder out then you are are winning and replant the cleaned rhubarb for harvest the next year.
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    I'd dig it out and only replant if I was certain there was no ground elder within. It's pretty tough to get rid of once established and not one I'd knowingly introduce. 
  • NoSlugsPleaseNoSlugsPlease Posts: 120
    Thank you, all. It's what I was afraid of but looks like it has to be done.
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    If you've only had GE a year or so you might be lucky enough to get rid of it. Leave it much longer and you'll have it forever. You'll probably be digging a much larger area than you think you need to! Remove EVERY last bit of root. A 2cm piece can (and will) sprout a new plant. You can usually carefully tease the roots out and trace them through the ground to find the furthest pieces. Luckily the light coloured roots are quite easy to see in the soil. 
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