Fighting greed: These 3 methods work best

Aegopodium Podagraria
Greedweed in the garden? This is how you prevent the umbelliferous plant from spreading

The groundweed is not welcome in every garden: once sown, the umbelliferous plant spreads unstoppably. If you want to prevent the overgrown weeds from spreading throughout your beds, they must be stopped. We’ll tell you a few common methods.

Due to the shape of its leaves, which are reminiscent of the hoof of a goat, the gosling is also called goat’s foot. Typical of the umbelliferous plant is its triangular petiole, from which three groups of leaves emerge – each of which has three leaves. The so-called “rule of three” is a sure sign that the proliferating weed is greedweed. The white umbel flowers, which stick their heads into the air between June and July, are also clearly visible. And serve as a food source for many bees and butterflies. Unfortunately, the plant has a natural habit of spreading unhindered via its underground rhizomes. If you want to prevent this, you can use various methods.

Fighting greedweed: This is how you get rid of the weeds

Since the goutweed can sow itself above ground via its seeds and at the same time migrate through the soil with its rhizomes, it is advisable to remove the umbelliferous plant early on as a young plant. The three following methods show how this works best.

Method 1: In order to banish weeds from the beds in the long term, the most effective method is to remove the rhizomes, which are up to 30 centimeters deep, from the soil in autumn or spring. It is important to know that you have to get the entire weave – if you miss just a tiny piece, the gooseweed can sprout again. Proceed as follows: Loosen the (unplanted) soil with a Digging fork gradually open up and expose the rhizome network. Do not use a spade as there is too high a risk of damaging the underground parts of the plant while digging. Then dispose of the weeds in the residual waste and not in the compost.

A notice: Remove the groundweed before it forms seeds, as removing them will spread via the wind and then resprout.

Method 2: To combat weeds in the long term, you can nip the groundweed (in the truest sense of the word) in the bud. All you need is some cardboard or a Weed control fabric – and lots of patience. This method lasts several years before the umbelliferous plant disappears from the beds completely. Proceed as follows: First, the leaves and stems must be cleaned with a secateurs be completely cut off before placing one of the above-mentioned covering options over the ground and weighing it down with sufficient bark mulch (approx. ten centimeters are required). After about two years the rhizomes should be completely dead.

Method 3: Another way to combat groundweed is to use chemicals weed killers – so-called herbicides. However, this method should only be used if your beds are completely overgrown and you have no other way out. It is important to know that application is not possible across the board if your beds are planted. Otherwise, the treatment would not only damage the weeds, but also other plants around them. On unplanted areas you can combat groundweed with a weed killer; the exact application can be found on the manufacturer’s packaging.

A notice: Do not apply the herbicide during rain (or dew). The umbelliferous plant should be dry every time it is treated. It is also advisable not to let pets get to the goosegrass when the product is being used. It should also make sense to treat weeds from a height of ten centimeters so that the plants can absorb enough herbicides.

Source: My beautiful garden

You might also be interested in:

This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.