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Has anyone any proven methods for getting this spreading menace out of the garden ? Have tried the Glyphosphate (?) sketch to no avail. It just comes back laughing at you ! The next move is a small thermo-nuclear device !!!

There are no Elder trees in the vicinity either.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Pinz you can do this hope its helps

Try to get rid of all the root. Weeds are hard to get rid off at the best of times. I believe the best thing is to be vigilant and don't let the plant go to seed. Keep digging up the roots until it dies and has no chance for it seeds to take hold.


Or this

Ground Elder soup.

25 to 30 young stems of ground elder
25g butter
25g flour
a small onion chopped finely
a rasher of bacon cut into small strips
500 mls of veg stock
250 mls of cream
salt and pepper to season.


Remove the leaves from the stockand wash before placing in the pan to be sweated for about 1 min and leave aside.
Fry bacon and onionin butteruntill the onion is softenedthen add the flour.
Addthe sweated leaves and simmerfor 5 mins.
Blend to form a smooth soup.
Seaon and stir in the creambefore serving.

Nicholas Culpepper {17th century astrologer=Phsician}

upon experimment it is found to heal gout and sciatica,it is also used for aching joints and other cold pains.

So maybe don t get rid off al of it.
you maybe sitting on a little gold mine there Pinz

Mmmm.. I like your thinking Lightning - eat the enemy !! Good plan.

Ground Elder has no connection with the Elder tree.
We had this when we lived in the country. It's virtually impossible to get all the roots out and even the smallest bit left will propagate. We found poisons useless, but we eventually cleared it by constantly pulling off the top growth; it eventually gave up.

Thanks Chris. I didn't realise they were two separate species. I've been chopping off eveything above ground, but it's like running up the "down" escalator! Just don't give up is the name of the game I guess.

the only real way to eradicate the ground elder is to keep the soil loose and fork it over frequently , hand picking out the roots, with time and effort it can be done

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Here is something else on Ground Elder, I hope it helps.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=215