Invasion of the Goutweed

From two plants, an army has sprung. Nothing seems to work. Our house burned down, gas was burned, the site was tramped on for 54 weeks and they came back!!! The trouble is perennials being consumed by this plant. Is there anything specifically made to combat Goutweed and if not, what is my alternative? Thanks

I googled goutweed and found www.forums.northscaping.com/post which one entry referred to goutweed as "the ultimate weapon of revenge on an irritating neighbor!" But he does go on to say how he got rid of it. If the above website address doesn't take you to it try www.northscaping.com and use the search option. Hope this will help you.

Thanks - I went to the forum you suggested and got depressed since it seems only total eradication works. You must destroy your perennials, etc. I an going to clean and transplant all perennials to pot. Over the summer I'll carefully spray Roundup on any Goutweed that grow in the pots. I'll cover the area (1/5 acre with cardboard and mulch.

Or I can allow it take over the whole area and simply place the perennials in pots in the middle of the goutweed.

You can piddle around with goutweed all you want, but it will always come back. For a heavy patch of it, we bring in an excavator and remove everything down to a 1 foot minimum depth - perennials, shrubs, and all. Replace it with some good some sterile t-mix or topsoil and start over!
It will re-generate from a single piece of root 5/8" long - this means it will hide in the roots of other plants, cracks of rocks, filter cloth, etc. and start the "invasion" anew. And this is in Ontario where we frequently have winters with temperatures of -30 degrees C. (-22F) - good luck in warmer climates!!

Aegopodium: the scourge of my last garden. My father-in-law came in one day when I wasn't there and planted some in the front of the house. I didn't know better, so I let it grow. It looked nice. He knew what he had unleashed in my garden. The man never liked me and the feeling was reciprocal. Within 2 years, it was EVERYWHERE. I couldn't pull it out, it resisted chemical defolliants, etc. I lived in Zone 5, where winters go to -40 and stay there every year. That was 15 years ago. I am finally rid of it.

There is only one way to get rid of goutweed: you have to move away at night in the middle of winter, leaving no forwarding address. And yes, it is a very effictive weapon against a bothersome neighbor or anyone you truly don't like.

Sylvain.

Thanks for everyone's advice. There is no "magic bullet". Worse, I have irrigation throughout the garden. I may do the paper, cardboard, cloth, mulch routine then put new dirt on top of that. The area is a depression so it can stand the extra 18 inches. A British neighbor used an edger and simply chopped every plant (leaf) as soon as it appeared & eventually it stopped. I tried this in one area (infected by transplanting) and it worked. None so far this year in that area.

My sympathies. I have it all over my yard as well (moved here 2 years ago). It's all over the block. I curse it daily.

You CAN get rid of this if you are diligent. But you have to be dil-i-gent!!! You must never rest. It's not easy, but it can be done. It took me 2 yrs and I was rid of mine that had been growing for 15+ years...thanks to my Dear Mother-In-Law (she had gardened at my home previous to me...if *anyone* did to me what was done to Sylvain, OH! I don't know what I'd do!!)

Ok, the thing is this has what's called 'runner roots.' Everyone learn a lesson here! Anything with runner roots can and will take over your garden, no matter how purdy it is...in a matter of one season it'll eat up everything! You can NOT let one bit of root lie in the ground or it'll come back...that's also why it's hard to kill with chemicals like Round Up...they just can't kill a root that long and deep.

What you need to do is start digging way, way, way outside of the area where this is growing....and I mean a good 3-5 feet. Also, you need to dig deep, probably 18 inches anyway. If you have perennials in this area remove them first so you don't end up chopping up their roots...because the whole area is going to get blasted...but you'll be finally be FREE of the menace!!! Ok, so start the digging and start pulling those roots...if you're not sure what the roots look like go ahead and start a bit in the center but try to avoid this if possible. You want to avoid cutting up any parts of the plant...it's just more small pieces you have to pick up. Leave NOTHING behind. Work at it...get dirty...take out your frustrations on whomever you need to (redirect it to the nasty goutweed...LOL!).

When I pulled out my goutweed the roots actually went under a sidewalk. I couldn't get those out so I left them exposed to the sun and sprayed them with Round Up. It worked well. Don't try to dig all this up in one day, it's no race! Take your time...leave the goutweed roots exposed to the sun and spray them with Round Up.

Once you do all this work you will be noticing and picking out the tiniest little pieces of root. You'll be an expert at spotting them. As long as your soil is all turned up now is a great time to amend it, so go ahead and do that before replanting your perennials.

Later this season and next season you'll see little individual leaves of goutweed come up here and there. Not a bunch, maybe 10 or 12. You want to pull those up and get as much root with them as possible. The roots should be shallow and come up pretty easily because the soil will still be loose. Don't bother spraying them, it's a waste of time at that point and you run a risk of overspraying onto your perennials.

By season three you shouldn't have a problem...maybe just a leaf or two sprouting up, but make sure you pull them because if you don't by the end of the season you'll be back to where you are now!

It's labor intensive, but it's guaranteed to work. The reason most folks can't get rid of it by digging it out is because it has the runner roots...they just cut those roots and make more babies.

Also be very careful where you dispose of this...and where you set it while you are digging it out. I suggest putting it directly into a box or bag and not set on the ground. If you compost it make sure it is fully cooked and no seeds are put in the pile!! If you have a burn pile and are able to burn it I'd do that. The perennials of the earth will thank you with a great sigh of releif!! :-)

Good luck. If I lived closer I'd come and help...really, I would.

PLEASE make sure to call 811 or your local utilities department, cable companies, etc. and have them mark all areas that include buried cable BEFORE you start performing the above remedies.

Very, very good idea Grantman! When I did this I had lived at the property for many years and knew where all my utilities were buried. We've all heard the horror stories though and a quick phone call is certainly worth it!

Thanks Heathrjoy - valiant effort. I have a "plan" of sorts. The area, while large, is enclosed by concrete. I spent several days (in 90 degree heat) removing plants and roots. I literally dreamed about those ^%$^% roots I pulled so many. I placed stepping stones from a sidewalk & covered approx 50%. All perennials are in pots on the stones. I've covered it all with 12 inches of pine bark. Yes, I am spraying but also pulling. If the plant does not leaf it eventually dies. I have gas, phone and irrigation lines and busted one of my irrigation lines. You have given me hope

Isn't it amazing...when you want to actually kill a plant you can't??!!! Good luck! You'll get it!

I also have rid myself of goutweed by diging and pulling... and pulling... and pulling. Heathrjoy is absolutely right- it CAN be done, but you must be diligent in removing the new sprouts. Ribbon grass has the same problem, and can be gotten rid of the same way.