Ground elder

beebuzz168

Thanks for the tips guys, I shall await a sunny day and then get dipping and spraying to attack from all angles.

I've got one more question, which may be a bit of stupid one, but I'm brand spanking new to all this gardening malarky.

Assuming that we kill the elder, either by spraying or dipping or whatever, do we then need to remove all the roots from the soil, or will they be dead so it doesn't matter?

The ground currently covered by the elder is soil that we had hoped to use to fill the uneven surfaces in our front garden. Or would we be better just getting rid of the soil to avoid the possibility of moving the ground elder to the front.

Mojisola

beebuzz168 wrote: »

Assuming that we kill the elder, either by spraying or dipping or whatever, do we then need to remove all the roots from the soil, or will they be dead so it doesn't matter?

The ground currently covered by the elder is soil that we had hoped to use to fill the uneven surfaces in our front garden. Or would we be better just getting rid of the soil to avoid the possibility of moving the ground elder to the front.

It would be very easy to move the problem to the front garden. Even tiny pieces of root can grow into a new plant. I don't think you could guarantee that the weedkiller would kill off every bit of root.

If you really need to use this soil elsewhere, after using the weedkiller several times until you aren't getting regrowth, I would still get out as much root as possible before transferring it. You would then need to be vigilant and spray any little ground elder plant as soon as it appears.

A._Badger

My sympathies to anyone with this plague. I've tried digging and I've tried glyphosate - neither has done much more than slightly impede its progress. The worst area is where it has moved into the 'lawn' (note ironic quotes). I thought of using a broadleaved weed killer but I think Mrs Badger's chickens might suffer. And then I would.

Someone earlier said it will drive you mad. I think it already has me. Napalm is next on my list.

Mojisola

A._Badger wrote: »

My sympathies to anyone with this plague. I've tried digging and I've tried glyphosate - neither has done much more than slightly impede its progress. The worst area is where it has moved into the 'lawn' (note ironic quotes). I thought of using a broadleaved weed killer but I think Mrs Badger's chickens might suffer. And then I would.

Don't the chickens eat it?

A._Badger

Mojisola wrote: »

Don't the chickens eat it?

Ours are extremely odd chickens if you ask me. When we tried the 'hang up a cabbage to give them something to peck at' routine, they cowered in the corner as if terrified of it.

To be fair, cabbage has the same effect on me, but that's another matter.

Strapped

Oops, so that's what that is. I have it in my garden (along with the dreaded bindweed :mad:).

hotpot1000

I still have just a small amount of g elder in between my camelia, I was advised to spray it in september for when it recedes then it would take it back into the ground and the effect would be stronger.

I did so in 2009 and got no elder all last yr, I have 1 or 2 sprigs this year. I used Resolva

Lotus-eater

A._Badger wrote: »

Ours are extremely odd chickens if you ask me. When we tried the 'hang up a cabbage to give them something to peck at' routine, they cowered in the corner as if terrified of it.

To be fair, cabbage has the same effect on me, but that's another matter.

All chickens I've ever had have gone bonkers for ground elder, they absolutely love it. They need to eat it off the living plant though, you can't pick it for them.
Maybe yours just need to be educated.

A._Badger

Lotus-eater wrote: »

All chickens I've ever had have gone bonkers for ground elder, they absolutely love it. They need to eat it off the living plant though, you can't pick it for them.
Maybe yours just need to be educated.

I'll have to buy them a copy of 'Chickening for Dummies'. They stump all over the stuff, completely uninterested in it.

My forget-me-nots, on the other hand...

Lotus-eater

How you educate them is thus. Either, put them with, or next to some chickens, that know how to eat.
Or put them in a run with the article you want them to eat. Make sure you give them enough dried food, but no extra greens. Eventually one of the stupid chickens should try something new and find out it's nice to eat. It's always worked for me in the past, although one of the dafter bunches took a few weeks to work out that hanging brassicas were very nice.