[potter]

Ground Elder is ruining my life!!!! Ive tried removing roots...spraying with weed killer,(B.C.)..before chickens.. but it keeps rearing its ugly head.  I dont get chance to do half as much pleasurable gardening as I would like because I keep pulling this stuff up. Any advice?

[cathangirl]

Hello potter,
That's another thing the Romans did for us. it is believed they brought it over from Europe as a herb and medicine for arthritis and gout, etc.
Bane of my gardening; that and horseradish.
I'm sure more experienced folk will be on soon, but try covering with heavy plastic and prepare small patches of ground as and when you can.  Keep hoeing.
Sorry, not much help, but I will look out for useful answers as they come along.
cathangirl

[Yorkie]

I greatly reduced it on my plot one year by using weedkiller to stop it getting out of control, then digging out the roots.

Unfortunately I no longer have that half of the plot and the tenants of it haven't even tried to keep on top of it so it's awful again.

I think cathangirl is right, cover and dig (although obviously don't cover the bits you're currently digging or it could get a bit pointless!).

[celjaci]

I agree with the covering but favour the heavy, woven ground cover fabric which allows air and water through rather than polythene.
I used this material to clear large areas of pernicious weeds including ground elder, creeping thistle, buttercup and couch grass with great sucess.
you could plant squash through the fabric if you cut small holes

[potter]

Im interested in how i could use it for the arthritis and gout.....Im bound to get it in me back  with all the bending im doing pulling the flippin stuff up!

[blackbob]

Ground Elder is ruining my life!!!! Ive tried removing roots...spraying with weed killer,(B.C.)..before chickens.. but it keeps rearing its ugly head.  I dont get chance to do half as much pleasurable gardening as I would like because I keep pulling this stuff up. Any advice?

agricultural strength roundup will sort it.may take 2 hits though.

[potter]

Ground Elder is ruining my life!!!! Ive tried removing roots...spraying with weed killer,(B.C.)..before chickens.. but it keeps rearing its ugly head.  I dont get chance to do half as much pleasurable gardening as I would like because I keep pulling this stuff up. Any advice?

agricultural strength roundup will sort it.may take 2 hits though.

Blackbob you are a font of knowledge!!! BUT...can I use this where I have free ranging chooks???

[blackbob]

Ground Elder is ruining my life!!!! Ive tried removing roots...spraying with weed killer,(B.C.)..before chickens.. but it keeps rearing its ugly head.  I dont get chance to do half as much pleasurable gardening as I would like because I keep pulling this stuff up. Any advice?

agricultural strength roundup will sort it.may take 2 hits though.

Blackbob you are a font of knowledge!!! BUT...can I use this where I have free ranging chooks???

yes not a problem,just keep them in until it's dried.we spray spring barley with roundup to speed the ripening process.