How to kill Ground elder or Goutweed

Ground Elder Aegopodium podagraria
Possibly the most universally loathed of all garden weeds, ground elder was introduced to England by the Romans as a vegetable and it has been annoying gardeners ever since. It is also know as goutweed because is was once said to be a cure for gout (a claim which turned out to be fase.). It properties as a weed, howener have never been in dobt, this is 16th ceatry commet by How to kill Ground elder: Chemical Options: Ground elder is notorious for its resistance to weed killer. If you want to use chemicals, wait until just before it comes into flower and give it a strong dose of a Glyphosate based weed killer. Organic Options: Carefully dig up every last root you can find and pull up any further shoots that come through (and there will be a lot). If you don't need the area immediately, the best option by far is to cover the patch with weed suppressing fabric for a year (or two). Alternative Options: Do as the Romans did and eat it. Ground elder has a strong and slightly bitter taste; the closest modern vegetable to it would probably be Swiss chard. Be careful though; Ground elder is a laxative if eaten in large quantities. If you have good way of beating ground elder that isn't listed here then please email me. Back to weed index