how to get rid of 'horses' mane' and ground elder?!

in a lawn the mower takes care of it and the rest i would membrane and use a mulch.ground elder etc can grow from a piece of root as it goes.

No, it's no probs in the lawn - just everywhere else!

Agree with Noseypotter - without using weedkiller the only way is to exclude the light completely with membrane, black plastic, carpet - for at least a year - covering to a metre beyond the affected areas.

I lived with ground elder in my old house and it was a true nightmare. I did try chemicals, but they didn't work. In the end, it was just a case of gritting my teeth and working a small area at a time and literally pulling out every trace of even a tiny piece of root. Hate the stuff. But then the soil in the garden of my new house is nowhere near as good as the old place. :-( Lesser of 2 evils!

I am not aware of any new tactics, sadly.
We have it too, and it's hard to eradicate, even if I did have masses of time to tackle it, because it's established itself in a valuable hedge, so I don't think there's any way it could ever be ousted completely.
Carpet/black plastic in the garden is so ugly too, I won't be going for that look this season, I'd rather look at a few weeds!

Yes, agreeing with Wagger, cover the area with a sheet of thick plastic, after painting any green bits with SBK.

that membrane allows for drainage etc and one you put gravel on it you wont see it either though its so vigouras your always going to get the odd bit especialy if your neighbers like me have it and dont mind

Hey Leigh, most fences are wood to earth, many wooden buildings are close to the ground. Wooden edges round flower beds and lawns will last ten years. All trees are wood to earth.
So sorry, senior moment here. I have put this comment here by mistake, have also put it in the right place.

trees are alive though doc thats not the same .like i said on the other comment lol .im not sugesting wood is bad in your garden.you just mite not want to change your fence posts every 10 years behind your well established,shrubs,trees and water feactures either.theres a pine tree i believe thats still kicking after over 2000 years bye the way lol.i have changed many a fence post due to rot at the bottem while the rest is still solid.on the other hand i have a pagoda over my pond with an ornimentle grape vine over it.i have bolted it to the pond rather than putting it in the ground.its bean there a good 10 years and its as good as when i put it up. just 2 different views i guess take care bye for now

I got rid of my ground elder in two seasons by carefully pulling out each root, following wherever it led (often intertwined with the roots of shrubs and other plants). Essential not to pull the root so that it breaks, because the bit left behind will carry on happily growing as fast as it can. There were so many other plants in the vicinity that chemicals or plastic sheets were not an option. Happily I'm retired so could afford the time needed and a great feeling of satisfaction when this year I can't find s trace of the dreaded leaves.

i dug and re dug over two seasons and did get rid of ground elder. [so far 10yrs on]. never had the horsetails but bruising the leaves first then glycophosphate is what the professionals did at my daughters school. they came through membrane. i know you said no chemicals but perhaps there are instances when it is justified.

i cemented most of my garden but i still have to keep it under control as the neighber only has grass and doesnt bother.they came through membrane wow