Weeds

dpatel2130

What are these weeds. Spread under the shrubs in border of front garden. Long roots. How to get rid of them. Pulling out now but what is long term solution. Suggestions please. 

Ilikeplants

Is the second one some sort of violet? Looks familiar.

Joy*

First looks like ground elder. I recognise the second but can't think of its name. Does the 2nd have felty leaves - thickish and peachy feel.  It is a weed. Violets tend to have smooth leaves with a shiny feel. How big are the leaves as size sometimes matters! Do both have long roots? Glyphosate weedkiller is probably your best bet if you have weeds with extensive roots. Use it with caution but it's the most likely to work. It might at least knock them back a bit and make them less of a problem. 

josusa47

I think the second one is petasites.  Which makes an interesting anagram: E, it's a pest.

Lyn

I’ve cleared a lot of ground elder from here, just dig down a bit and trace the roots along, they are not too deep rooted, don’t break them off though or it will grow again, I find it quite therapeutic just to sit down and spend a quiet hour, depending , I suppose on how much time you’ve got.
Year ago I did spray a patch but by the next year it was up again, so as well as not liking poisons, pulling out works just as well, better in fact. 

Joy*

I would agree with Lyn but you will have to make sure that every scrap of root is gone, including any amongst the roots of plants you want to keep. If you can clear everything from the bed, digging it out would be more effective. It's very persistent. You have to beat it at it's own game. My husband likes to make life easier and chuntered at me all the time when I insisted digging up weeds instead of using weedkiller. When I gave in the weedkiller left many persistent weeds but killed my Cox's Orange Pippin apple tree. 
I've just remembered the name of the second weed - it's Jack by the hedge (Alliaria petiolata)

Borderline

I'm thinking the second photograph looks like Sweet Violets, Viola Odorata. Some regard this as a weed because of the way it can spread. But I like them.

dpatel2130

So it is established that they both are weeds and spread and difficult to get rid of. No question of shrubs out as they are well established. Once I remove weeds by hand I will cover the ground with black plastic and keep eye on it. See what happens. Expensive and damaging chemicals will be very last or not at all. Thank you @Borderline, @Joy*, @Lyn, @josusa47, @Ilikeplants. 

dpatel2130

Do you think I am pulling enough roots of these ground elder? 

Lyn

Just keep using your trowel along the soil until you get to the end, they usually have long white roots. Can be up to a foot  long. 

Joy*

You have made a good start but it will be an ongoing task. They more you remove the better. It will continue to travel if you let it  (sadly personal experience here) but if you remove as much as you can, regularly, at least you will keep it in check and feel that you are the boss.