Ground elder

emmamehlin

Hi, I am new to this forum and looking for advise. I work for a private estate within the new forest, which has approx 28 acres of ground. This comprises of formal flower beds and lawns on one side, natural ponds and grasslands on the other. The areas are totally separate from one another. We are looking to create as natural an environment around the ponds as possible, but have areas of ground elder and bind weed. Would it be wrong to use these evasive weeds as positives and as ground cover? Or not? Any advise, thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

pansyface

Hello,
Not sure what you really want to know here.

You say that you are trying to establish a natural environment.

Well, you’ve got one.  

The plants that are living there now are the plants that nature favours in that place. They have competed with other plants in the past and they are the natural winners.

So when you say that you want to create a natural environment, all you need to do is put the kettle on and sit back and enjoy nature. Anything else would result in an unnatural environment.

emmamehlin

Thank you for your comment, that is what I wanted to hear, just needed to hear it from someone else. Lack of confidence on my part.

Dovefromabove

Totally agree with @pansyface 😊 

after all, if they start to show expansionist tendencies I’m sure you have access to a strimmer or two 👍 

SueAtoo

Strimmer would be no good for controlling ground elder, it spreads underground and by seed EVERYWHERE.

MissM

On a plus note Ground Elder is edible...

Dovefromabove

I can assure you that in my experience, within a ‘garden wilderness’ type area it is quite possible to control ground elder using a strimmer before seeds ripen. However this is not suitable for most gardens with beds and borders.