Ground Elder

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by longk, Jun 1, 2012.

  1. longk

    longk Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2011
    Messages:
    11,431
    Location:
    Oxfordshire
    Ratings:
    +23,250
    I have discovered ground elder. The problem is that it's growing under a very low growing Acer which I would prefer not to kill. This Acer is clearly established as it has a trunk of 60/70mm (which snapped a few years ago).

    In an ideal world the Acer would be lifted and the ground elder then tackled, but I'm not sure how deep the Acer roots go.

    Any suggestions on how best to tackle this will be appreciated.
     
  2. Jenny namaste

    Jenny namaste Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2012
    Messages:
    18,904
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    retired- blissfully retired......
    Location:
    Battle, East Sussex
    Ratings:
    +34,580
    I am recoiling in horror as I read this Keith. How I loathe this insidious weed. it forces itself in and around so many precious things doesn't it. You have my deepest sympathy but I think it is something you and I have to learn somehow to live with. I have vowed to keep a hawkeye on it and NEVER allow it to flower.
    Apart from that....:grphg:
     
  3. Boghopper

    Boghopper Gardener

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2008
    Messages:
    816
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    (East) Sussex by the Sea
    Ratings:
    +225
    Yes, I agree with Jenny. Nipping off the flower heads as soon as they appear and pulling off as many leaves as you can, helps to weaken it. That way, other plants have a chance to smother it. Good luck!:blue thumb:
     
  4. Gay Gardener

    Gay Gardener Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2011
    Messages:
    1,258
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    The Wash, Fens
    Ratings:
    +1,978
    Argh! You have my commiserations . I too had a garden with ground elder and I tried everything under the sun to eradicate it without success, I only managed to keep it somewhat under control. What a horror it is. So I have no magic cures to offer.
    What I wish I had done when i first saw mine was to detect how it had arrived. I think the usual is either creeping in from outside your garden (ie from a neighbour) or sometimes a bought plant is infected with it (every millimetre of its roots sprouts into a flourishing hideous network). Do you think perhaps it arrived on the back of a bought plant ? If so I think I would sacrifice that plant and go crazy to try to isolate the area and see if that contains and eradicates it before getting a good grip.
    Sorry I cannot be more positive, but good luck. I hope you have better success than me.

    Cheers.
     
  5. OxfordNick

    OxfordNick Super Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
    Messages:
    677
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Oxfordshire
    Ratings:
    +1,615
    Im just reading "The Hedgerow Handbook: Recipes, Remedies & Rituals (Adele Nozedar) & she claims that Ground Elder is quite nice to eat ... personally I doubt this, since it grows far to quickly to be useful for anything other than improving the monthly sales of Roundup, but I might give it a go at the weekend, since I have a couple of days off to recover if it all goes horribly wrong..
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • simbad

      simbad Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 27, 2011
      Messages:
      2,422
      Location:
      Lincolnshire
      Ratings:
      +3,318
      I sympathise too Longk, I too have the dreaded ground elder, mine grows through from a rough track at the bottom of the garden and a plot next door that hasn't been built on, tried for years to get rid of the stuff, I give it a spray with roundup a couple of times a year which does stop it taking over the world but flippin stuff seems invincible.
      OxfordNick yes I was told the young leaves are nice to eat but can't say I fancy trying them either :eeew:
       
    • stumorphmac

      stumorphmac cymbidist

      Joined:
      Dec 8, 2010
      Messages:
      346
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      RETIRED GARDENER
      Location:
      Powys
      Ratings:
      +213
      I have tried eating ground elder raw it has a slight celery flavour I dont like celery but ground elder I find quite nice better than lettuce in salad.havent tried cooking it
       
    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

      Joined:
      Feb 20, 2008
      Messages:
      15,662
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Guildford
      Ratings:
      +27,882
      Don't spray the glyphosphate, paint it on the leaves of the ground elder. If you spray it you'll kill the acer with drift
       
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jul 3, 2006
      Messages:
      67,254
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired - Last Century!!!
      Location:
      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
      Ratings:
      +134,071
      I agree wholeheartedly with Loofah. Paint it on the leaves. I don't think you can get the thickened version of glyphosate that you used to be able to get (came with a brush in the lid). In which case it's a hands and knees job with careful use of a brush.

      We used to have lots of it in many parts of the garden (one section, about 4' x 20', it almost totally covered). Nearly all of it has gone but it appears occasionally in three last refuges. Vigilance and dedication should get rid of it in a couple of years. Paint the leaves and, in 2 - 3 weeks, watch the leaves wilt. If they haven't done so in a month then apply again. Further applications whenever you see the leaves should do the job but always wait about a month before re-applying.

      On the edible side: as we had so much of it, we did eat it. It made an excellent soup (cooked like nettle soup) and was used in salads (I don't eat salad) and very lightly steamed as a veg.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • OxfordNick

        OxfordNick Super Gardener

        Joined:
        Jul 25, 2011
        Messages:
        677
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Oxfordshire
        Ratings:
        +1,615
        Hmm - sounds like I might be able to make wine out of it by treating it like Nettle Wine - has to be worth a go.
         
      • longk

        longk Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Nov 24, 2011
        Messages:
        11,431
        Location:
        Oxfordshire
        Ratings:
        +23,250
        Ye gods! I have a serious weed issue and you lot are on about food and making your own grog!!!:ccheers:

        Any roads - looks as if glyphosate is the way to go.

        Thanks all!
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Jenny namaste

          Jenny namaste Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Mar 11, 2012
          Messages:
          18,904
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          retired- blissfully retired......
          Location:
          Battle, East Sussex
          Ratings:
          +34,580
          I think drowning our sorrows in a virtual GC booze up sounds as good as its gonna get Keith,
          cheers,:grphg:
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • simbad

            simbad Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Feb 27, 2011
            Messages:
            2,422
            Location:
            Lincolnshire
            Ratings:
            +3,318
            I saw an advert somewhere recently :scratch: , don't think I dreamt it:biggrin:, of a new roundup that comes with a roller sort of top that you can just dab on the weed leaves great to use on dandelions etc that grow through precious plants.
             
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Nov 24, 2011
            Messages:
            11,431
            Location:
            Oxfordshire
            Ratings:
            +23,250
            Round one; glyphosate dabbed on leaves.
             
          • Kristen

            Kristen Under gardener

            Joined:
            Jul 22, 2006
            Messages:
            17,534
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Suffolk, UK
            Ratings:
            +12,671
            I have eradicated Ground Elder from two previous gardens using Glyphosate. It was widespread, the gardens were large, and I went in somewhat Agent Orange style, and there was collateral damage. With a single outbreak you should have no difficulty sorting it out.

            The "Deodorant" style Roundup is called "New Roundup Weedkiller Gel" and I've tried it on some bindweed amongst plants here this spring already. Its slightly peculiar in that it is a gel-stick with a perforated top (like a salt seller) and you click a button to "wind the gel up" until it pushes through the perforated top, then you dab it on. Not sure it will be any use to me except on plants that are embedded in other plants, I will use a small narrow-area sprayer with a upside-down-funnel-shaped drift-catcher for the main attack on Bindweed this year.

            Just don't go getting Horsetail in your garden, that's much harder to get rid of ...
             
            • Like Like x 2
            Gardeners Corner is dependent on Donation to keep running, if you enjoy using Gardeners Corner, please consider donating to help us with our operating costs.
            Loading...

            Share This Page

            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
              Dismiss Notice