hi all any suggestions on how to get rid of rampant ground elder without damaging plants close by

Dig, dig and dig is my only advice. Making sure you do not leave bits of root behind.

Treat with glyphosate first, either as a spray (needs to be non windy) or mixed in a can (easier where there are other plants). It kills anything green it touches, although it won't kill ground elder outright. Treat again a week later, leave it a week and then dig, extracting all the roots you can find.

Yes. Keep digging out any tiny roots. Only needs a small bit to remain and back it come.

I had this problem some years ago and read that if you just pick it you eventually weaken it and it dies. Well - I picked and picked for about three seasons, and it went! But boy - you need to be persistent!

Guess it depends on your personality - I like to sort a problem out in as short a time as possible, even if that requires a huge effort, before I lose the impetus and forget about it - and it takes over. Maybe I'm the equivalent of a 'sprinter' as opposed to a long distance runner in mindset, lol!

I certainly wouldn't have the patience to remove every leaf stem as it appeared above ground - and what do you do when you go away for two weeks? Like Bamboo I prefer to sort something then and there. That said we all have our own way of dealing with things.

I've never thought about it before, its quite interesting, how people take different approaches with something like this. I guess its obvious really though - I ignore the housework and then have a complete blitz for a couple of days, then ignore it again. Whereas other people keep up with it on a daily basis, little and often. Fascinating... I bet the latter group are the ones who'll happily just keep removing leaves over 2 years...
Apologies to Lazyhoe for digressing slightly.

You and I obviously treat housework in the same way Bamboo... a good incentive for me is if we are having visitors whereupon I go into overdrive.

Hee hee, ain't that the truth - one of my friends phoned 2 days ago to say she was on her way - I'd not expected her till after 6, and this was around 3.30. You've never seen anyone move so fast, I didn't think I had it left in me... place was like a tip cos of clearing out wardrobes.

lol! and sorry Lazyhoe - we do wander off topic on this forum at times :-)

My ground elder was in the wild area, and a lot of digging would have changed the character. I think you have to take whichever line will fit with the circumstances. I should add that it was in my very early gardening days as well, and seemed like a good, simple solution when I read it!!! I don't think I would describe myself as a long-distance runner Bamboo :-0)) Fairly patient, though (aren't all gardeners?) And, oh yes - I'm definitely a crisis
housewife!

It's possible to be both impatient and patient - I'm a prime example. Patient with plants, impatient when waiting for a bus or a parcel to come...

Ditto!

I'm beginning to wonder if we're clones, MG...

Now there is a scary thought Bamboo!

Yes - I can think of one or two people in my family who'd be groaning loudly in the corner at the very thought...

lol