How do you eradicate ground elder?

Answer 1

Ground elder is a real nuisance, and you wont get rid of it all in one go. Glyphosate is useless as it just doesnt eliminate all of the roots in one go. Just one fragment of root can re-establish the whole plant.
In the autumn you can cut the stems back, make a collar out of packing tape, apply sodium chlorate to the stumps and cover with a plastic bag to keep out the rain. By spring a lot of the root system will have rotted away but you then have to dig it all out, right down to the fine roots. I hope its not established over a big area!
Keep an eye on it for the following couple of seasons and at the slightest sign of re growth just dig it out.
Sorry I can't offer a better solution.

ps sodium chlorate and glyphosate are both ok to use in organic gardens. With sodium clorate don't replant for 6 months.

Answer 2

Ground elder is a creeping weed and it is absolutely no use trying to dig it up or pull it up. In one garden I did manage in the end to get rid of it by using Roundup (glyphosate) very carefully sprayed or wiped onto every emerging leaf until it finally gave up. It did take me two years (and three to be absolutely sure). Sarah C is wrong - and since she talks about stumps she must be referring to Elder (Sambucus niger), not Ground Elder ( Aegopodium podagraria) - the ONLY sure method is glyphosate!

It is a weed which was supposedly brought to England by monks - another name for it is Goatweed or Goutweed - for curing (or, at least, alleviating) the symptoms of gout. It is actually edible and can be cooked very like spinach. It has a faintly anise taste.

http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Finding_Food/Ground_Elder_Recipes_-_Eat_Your_Way_to_Eradicating_a_Troublesome_Weed/

Answer 3

roundup will work ,but it takes a few attemps,it will also die if you keep cutting the tops off,but once again it will take ages,the only sure way is to dig it,several times,over a few weeks,removing every section of root you see,as each bit you leave will grow again,never rotovate the area,you will spead it evey where,if you have a large area,you could try covering it with black plastic or old carpet,leave it a year,this will kill some off,but it will also make the roots easier to pick up as a lot will run along under the plastic,i think if you can control the worst of it,then like me you will have to put up with it close to other shrubs etc,its not that bad is it ?:)

Answer 4

first off whats ground elder

Answer 5

are you referring to senior citizens? i don't think eradicating them will solve our social security program issues...

Answer 6

that is a v.gud point....i dont have the answer but im looking forward to seeing some!