It's not a pretty sight for the solid, no-nonsense German gardener when he spots Giersch in the lawn in front of his door. Immediately, people stubbornly consider how to remove this weed as quickly as possible so that the green idyll in the lawn can grow as usual. Here we explain to you what you can do against ground elder!

Ground elder grows very profusely and is difficult to drive away

A dreaded troublesome weed

In order for the control of ground elder to be really successful in the long term, you should first recognize the ground elder correctly. Is that really goutweed in your garden? This herb prefers to grow in light shade, on moist substrates preferably at the edge of trees.

The next step is to find out what survival strategies this weed has. One thing is known: Giersch is rampant. But how does he do it?

  • forms root suckers (up to 50 cm deep)
  • spread in all directions
  • it also forms shoots at a depth of 5 to 10 cm
  • Seeds like to sow themselves
  • Seeds remain viable for several years

Fine work: Remove all root suckers

What helps now? The combat method of removing all root suckers, by hand, has proven to be the most effective. Admittedly this is tedious, but it works! For this it is necessary to remove all underground shoots or roots, because the herb then multiplies without being asked.

You can rip the seedlings out of the soil if it's a bit damp. But deep down, root remains remain. After digging, these must be read out with a digging fork, for example. They can grow up to 50 cm deep. It is ideal to use a sieve to sort out the root remains.

Any little scrap left in the ground can grow into a new ground elder plant! This is how you recognize the foothills or roots:

  • they are white
  • they are extremely brittle
  • they are at least 20 cm long
  • their diameter is 2 to 3 mm

Chop - never wait until flowering!

Furthermore, you can get the goutweed under control by chopping it off regularly. This gradually robs the plant of its power until it eventually dies. Always do this before flowering begins! Otherwise, you may encourage the self-seeding of the seeds. It is best to start doing this in the spring.

Get rid of ground elder with ground covers

Here is another strategy against ground elder explained:

  • suppress with ground covers
  • suitable ground cover: potatoes, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke, comfrey, knotweed
  • e.g. B. Plant potatoes in spring (distance 20 cm)
  • the dense foliage casts shadows on the ground and blocks the light from the goutweed
  • also take nutrients and water
  • Side effect: the soil is loosened up

Cover the goutweed to destroy it?

Covering the weeds has also proven itself. Maybe that's your method of choice, because it's the least effort. However, this is a lengthy method. It lasts 2 to 3 years and is not 100% successful.

The point is to smother the gout with a fleece, foil or cardboard with bark mulch. The eradication takes place gradually. The disadvantage of this method: The seeds can survive because they remain germinable for many years.

Weed killer? Only if there is no other way

Chemical-based weed killers should only be a stopgap measure. You should think carefully before using poison in your own garden. For example, the long-term effects of herbicides containing the active ingredient glyphosate are unclear. In any case, this active ingredient is in a bad light.

Therefore, do not use such a spray! Not only for the sake of the environment and your own health, but also because herbicides - even those with glyphosate - are often ineffective against ground elder. The roots survive.

Other options, but less effective

You can also try the following measures in the fight against goutweed:

  • don't water, just let it dry out
  • Mix in soil with sand, if necessary also mix in lime
  • Let sheep or other grazing animals graze on the goutweed

Learn to love goutweed and eat it

Of course it can also be completely different. It is your choice whether you view the goutweed as an enemy or as a friend. This wild plant is not poisonous and can even be good for your health!

You can eat goutweed! It is a tasty, vital substance-rich and free alternative to parsley. You can use it for stews, pesto and spinach, for example. Incidentally, the plant helps with gout, rheumatism and digestive problems and it is good for your body with its high content of iron, vitamin C and potassium.

tips

Attention: The rhizomes of the goutweed are stimulated to grow by simply chopping or severing.

Category:

Herbs