Ground elder in hedge bottom

[david lawrence]

Hi

whats the best way to curb or better still kill ground elder growing out of a hedge?

it’s a pest where it is but really a problem as it invades out from the hedge

 

wary of getting roundup on hedge leaves or bark it’s mainly field maple with hazel and hawthorn ( just bought 5 litres of glyphosate £70 that’s a shock double what last lot cost )

 

suffocate it with cardboard and woodchip ?

if I go for this would piling fresh chip against the hedge stems harm them ?

 

tips welcome

 thanks 

david

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Essexlogman]

We found emptying grass cuttings from our ride on and lawnmower mulched around the borders where we have ground elder certainly curtails growth and is a good moisture retainer as well seemed to really work well much more natural alternative than spraying poison and yes keep away from trunks if possible although depends on how deep you much, good luck!

[daveatdave]

you could use a cone hood on your sprayer to protect the hedge put a wetting agent in with the  glyphosate it could take a few years to get rid of it 

i found mulching or weed membrane dos not work even seen it go under concreate paths and come out the other side  

[peds]

Just do as the Romans did (when they introduced the blasted plant all over Europe), and embrace it as a vegetable. Pick it young, though, as when it has started to flower, it'll make you shit your guts out.

 

God knows why they liked to eat it. Strange bunch.

[Stere]

I think it will be  hard to get rid without  weed killer. (though that may also harm the hedge) it maybe easier to just contain its spread with a root barrier.

 

Though mulching with many layers of cardboard or using a weed membrane over the whole area may work. It  would  take  a few yrs and you would need to cover the  area  the 100%, and  keep checking you didin't miss abit.

 

Hard to do around the all the hedge trunks but might be feasible if area isn't to large.

 

The trouble imo with  bark and grass mowings  it will supress it initially but it will grow though it and feed the ground elder by improving soil as it breaks down.

 

With ground elder its best to have zero tolerance approach or not bother. Otherwise you waste time weeding it etc, then its back to square one in a few yrs unless you removed  every single tiny bit of it.

Edited May 10, 2022 by Stere

[Guest Gimlet]

I'd be wary of spraying glyphosate into a hedge bottom at this time of year. It's alright spot spraying or wiping but blanket coverage risks getting into the soil and the hedge plants will suck it up as they're voraciously feeding and drawing up water right now, even more so if they are in leaf and transpiring, which stimulates suction at the roots.

You can get away with it in winter, to kill off brambles etc, even if the ground is wet because the hedge is dormant, there's no transpiration and nothing in the soil will be taken up by the plant.

 

I have found you can swamp ground elder and stop it's advance, if it's in a garden, simply by mowing or strimming up to the base of the hedge and giving the grass a chance to compete with it. If it's in a field, let livestock eat it but I wouldn't chase it into the hedge and try and eliminate it.  

And the problem with smothering or spraying, is you kill off desirable hedge bottom flora as well and drastically reduce bio-diversity. Containment, or even tolerance, is a better option. 

Edited May 10, 2022 by Gimlet