Bishop's weed is about to assimilate my entire yard! Help!!

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mainenewbie Bangor, ME(Zone 5a) May 21, 2009

Has anyone had any real success in permanently removing Bishop's weed (goutweed, groundelder)? It just sort of appeared this year and is taking over. Unfortunately it's running through a huge section of pachsandra so even if I dig it up I'm not sure I could tell the difference between the Bishop's weed roots and the pachysandra roots.Any thoughts/help would be greatly appreciated!

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EllaTiarella Portage, MI(Zone 5b) May 21, 2009

Just want to extend my sympathy. I too am dealing with intermingling of do-want with don't-want. It's a pain. And you didn't even plant the Bishop's goutweed!!!

I do have one piece of advice, based on my own current problems: Don't delay.

Come to think of it, maybe i have one thought: This spring we removed a huge patch of pachysandra in an area I am converting to a shade garden. Furthermore, through the years I have planted pachysandra in various areas using pieces dug up from elsewhere in my yard. So, based on my experience handling pachysandra: You may be able to lift all the intertwining pachysandra/goutweed, then pick out enough pure pachysandra to replant the bed with just pachysandra, and toss out the remainder. Pachysandra roots are fairly thick and white, and it's easy to lift a piece and visually see all the root which is attached to that piece of stem/leaves. Just separate out enough Pachys to replant the area, mulch well, and it'll fill in within a year or so.

To plant pachysandra from old pieces, they way i always did it was: I used a tool called a "Trake". Pick up a piece of Pachys, eyeball the root system on it, use the cultivator end of the trake to dig a 2-inch furrow for that root, lay the root system in, with the foliage leaning to the side of the furrow, then use the trowel end to cover the root with soil. Work from one side of the vacant space to the other so your next furrow-digging is clear of the root you just buried. Scatter some Espoma Tree-Tone across the area, use a broom handle to knock all the granules off the foliage, and mulch with shredded leaves, trying not to bury the foliage. Water in well, and keep moist the first month or so.

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mainenewbie Bangor, ME(Zone 5a) May 22, 2009

Ella,
Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I plan on tackling the issue this weekend and it's great to have guidance from someone familiar with this problem. I'll be printing out your instructions and hoping for the best. Thanks!!

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