Hardly any weed is as stubborn as ground elder, also known as trefoil or goat's foot. Due to the meter-long root runners and an amazing adaptability, the weed conquers almost any terrain, even pushes itself into the root balls of plants and sprouts cheekily right next to them. In this article you will learn how to successfully and permanently get rid of goutweed.

Popular with insects, hated by humans: goutweed

Do chemical weed killers help?

The trefoil is extremely robust. Certain plants die when treated with herbicides. On the other hand, the extensive root runners that reach deep into the soil are not fully reached by the agents, so that the goutweed soon drives out again.

Since weed killers also damage crops and negatively affect the microorganisms living in the soil, you should prefer other measures.

Fight the billyfoot mechanically

This method is the most effective, but unfortunately quite exhausting. A day when the soil on the surface is relatively dry is ideal for control, as it then breaks up into fine crumbs.

  • First loosen the soil with the digging fork. The ground elder roots can be found at a depth of about twenty to thirty centimetres.
  • Do not lift the soil as you do this, as the roots may tear and be more difficult to remove.
  • Carefully put your hands into the loosened soil. You can now feel the root system, carefully lift it out of the ground and shake off the adhering substrate.
  • Then carefully pick out all root remains with the help of a hand rake.

If the goutweed has been removed over a large area, it may still be the case that isolated plants appear. It helps to weed them regularly so that the plant can no longer spread again. Mulching is also a good way to suppress regrowing ground elder.

Covering with foil or fleece: The alternative method that requires a little patience

If weeding is not enough, you can temporarily cover the ground with a dark film or plant fleece. The goat's foot is deprived of light and oxygen and it withers. However, you need some stamina for this, because the foil must remain on the surface for at least one season.

What to do with the roots?

You don't have to put the goutweed in the compost bin, as is often read. Let the roots dry in the sun and then chop them up. After that, you can put the goutweed on the compost, where it will rot like any other plant material.

However, it is better to dispose of fresh ground elder roots in the compost bin, because they would sprout again in the compost and grow through the garden faster than rot.

Young groundweed leaves are too good to be thrown away

Don't just throw away the weeded greens entirely, as all of the above-ground herb can be used to make a downright delicious dish. The young leaves are particularly tasty and tender. You can prepare them like spinach, add them to salads, put them on pizza or serve them as a filling, for example in ravioli. Ground elder is even very good as a pesto.

tips

Edible flowers are all the rage. Ground elder produces small, white flowers that taste pleasantly spicy. Sprinkle them on salads or as a decorative condiment on potato soup. You'll be surprised how good weeds do in the kitchen.

Category:

Herbs