Hoeing weeds

Same old story for me and the dreaded ground elder. One patch I have is full of it - I have used round up, and sbk, but still it comes back. The trouble is, in waiting for the round up to do its stuff after each application, the other weeds are getting big. I cannot spray the whole lot as I have small perennials and other plants there which I do not want to lose. A lot of the leaves touch, so even the paintbrush technique doesn't work as the weed killer infected leaves brush against the other plants.

I have had to hoe this morning as it is getting ridiculous. Will endless hoeing eventually weaken off the ground elder do you think?

I have also noticed that my Dad, as well as giving me a lot of lovely plants from his garden, has also given me some bindweeed!!!! Lovely. Does the same apply?:(

 

Even ground elder will eventually weaken and die if the tops are cut off frequently enough. The old gardeners used to say ''never let the weeds see Sunday"

Another option is to lift the plants ( pot them up or move to a holding area ) then cover the problem area with weed supressant membrane or cardboard. After a year or so even troublesome weeds will be killed off and you can replant into a clean area.
I cleared a large area with this method and killed off creeping thistle, buttercup, ground elder and couch grass in 18 months