I noticed that I have Ground Elder in the garden
By Newtogarden
United Kingdom 
Hello
Where I'm at with gardening.
This is an elderly family members garden that I'm trying to tidy up.
I only recognise a flower if I purchase it and plant it.
Find it difficult to identify weeds as you might notice!
I noticed that I have Ground Elder in the garden.
I've dug out most of the large growths but now notice that it's growing within other plants.
From what I've read it's difficult to get rid of.
Does that mean I need to dig out all the plants that have it growing within them? I'm not even sure how this came about, it actually looks like it was intentionally planted in the corner as a plant as the large roots were evenly spaced apart!!
Any advice would be appreciated.
Here's a link to my pictures.
I have asked for the name of a plant but to me it looks like Ground Elder with a flower bud.
Notice the pink plant has Ground Elder growing out of it.
Also small shoots coming out of bare soil :(
My understading of Ground Elder.
It's got a terrible invasive root system but don't know how to kill it without damaging the other plants.
Photos
http://www.snapmylife.com/photos/2182554
Any tips would be appreciated how to recognise and prevent.
Any advise would be much appreciated.
Thanks
17 Jul, 2013
Answers
There is a way of eradicating ground elder growing within plants but it is time consuming and you'll need to repear the action until it's dead.
Get some round up( glyphosate) in a jam jar and using a smallish paint brush paint it on the the ground elder leaves.Repeat every 2 weeks until it is dead .
This is only worth doing if the plant it is growing through is particularly prized. Otherwise dig the lot up and wait for any latent ground elder to come up,dig it up or treat it and do not replant until you're sure it has all gone
17 Jul, 2013
I tried to look at the photo but Google just led me back to the Grows on You page - what did I do wrong?
17 Jul, 2013
Depending on how much time you have, ground elder needs to be dug up regularly, or painted with weed killer carefully, or the round-up gel stick stuff on the leaves. Will probably take years to eradicate.
The plant shown with the little ball buds is a Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis) which also spreads. See the alphabet at bottom of this page for pics.
The pink flowered plant is a geranium, someone else will know which one.
17 Jul, 2013
The weeds page worked for me Steragram.
17 Jul, 2013
Drc726, Anchorman, Steragram, Honeysuckle.
Thanks for all the replies and advice.
I'll did out as much as I can and poison as explained and see how I get on.
I know now it's an ongoing job and will need to bring in my friends persevere and patience.
Steragram, I've sent you a pm, let me know how you get on.
Thanks for showing an interest.
:)
17 Jul, 2013
Thanks Drc - the problem wasn't finding out what ground elder looks like (I've seen enough to last me) It was wondering how to use the link to find the photo.
17 Jul, 2013
Steragram, just copy and paste the link into your address bar.
18 Jul, 2013
You will find a photo of it in the Goypeadia Weeds page.
I have some ground elder in parts of my garden and I do dig it up but it always comes up again as the tiniest piece of root left will re grow. They is no other way if its among plants but to dig it out again and again as much as you can. In the Autumn smaller plants can be dug up and cleared of it? and replanted, but since its growing in among some of my big shrubs I have learnt to live with some and life has got easier!
17 Jul, 2013