Organic weedkiller - Help! - Forum - Landscape Juice Network

Last autumn we cleared a 300 sq ft well planted mature border completely infested with ground elder by hand forking, pulling and teasing the roots out of the substantial planting, including clearing it from around apple tree roots. So far so good!It has of course come back but is very weak and weeding the border is going to contain the problem. From experience if you pull it often and carefully enough it gives up!However, approx. three feet from the border, separated by a grass path where mowing also keeps the elder under control, is a mature hedge (hawthorn, yew, escallonia, hazel, beech) under which new ground elder is encroaching fast from the neighbouring garden. I have tried removing it but it is embedded under the hedge from the other side.I don't want to kill the hedge but do want to spray the ground elder, if possible avoiding using Roundup, Tumbleweed, Knockdown Systemic, Elimin8 or Casoron G4 Weed Barrier.Can anyone suggest an organic weedkiller that will work without killing off the hedge? Someone has told me vinegar, salt, washing-up liquid and water works but I don't know what proportions to use. Any suggestions how we can tackle this problem most gratefully received.Flower Power

I have tried with some various so called 'organic' weedkillers; I have to be honest and say that none were effective apart from salt, but that will cause damage to the hedgerow species you wish to maintain. It would be great to hear what other people come up with, but I would suggest laying matting down and mulch. Roundup biactive when used properly does breakdown in the soil. After all if in an attack of non native invasive species / Phytophora etc.,. on an organically managed plot, there is a general consensus that this is the ONLY chemical which can do the job, without upsetting the deep greens.
'Washing Up liquid' is considerably more harmful to the environment than 'Round up biactive'.
Alternatively invest in a flamethrower, but you will have to be very careful with regards the surrounding plants.
Lastly 'urine' can be pretty good, particularly when applied on a very dry & sunny day.

Replies

Sustainable Land Management April 11, 2009 at 3:24pm

I have tried with some various so called 'organic' weedkillers; I have to be honest and say that none were effective apart from salt, but that will cause damage to the hedgerow species you wish to maintain. It would be great to hear what other people come up with, but I would suggest laying matting down and mulch. Roundup biactive when used properly does breakdown in the soil. After all if in an attack of non native invasive species / Phytophora etc.,. on an organically managed plot, there is a general consensus that this is the ONLY chemical which can do the job, without upsetting the deep greens.
'Washing Up liquid' is considerably more harmful to the environment than 'Round up biactive'.
Alternatively invest in a flamethrower, but you will have to be very careful with regards the surrounding plants.
Lastly 'urine' can be pretty good, particularly when applied on a very dry & sunny day.
PRO

Phil Voice April 11, 2009 at 3:53pm

I have written about vinegar as a total vinegar this week. The jury is still out as far as I am concerned but it might be worth doing a small area as a test. (I would also do a soil test before and after too, just to make sure that there really is no residual build up.
CMGGarden&Home April 15, 2009 at 11:12am

Thank you all very much for your advice and help. Onwards and upwards. Frances & Charlie