Getting rid of bluebells under an acer

Pete.8

I've had a patch of bluebells under my acer in the front garden for a long time and of course over the years they've spread.
I recently had a new driveway put in and some some round conifers that fronted this area had to go. The result is I can now see the bluebells. 
Lovely as they are for a week or so, for the rest of the year it just looks a mess.
From what I've read the only way to get shot of them is to dig them up, but I can't do that as I would certainly damage the roots of my beautiful acer and I'm not going to risk that, and with the conifers gone they'll be everywhere in no time.

Any suggestions folks?
Thanks

Fairygirl

Tricky @Pete.8. You could try just constantly shearing them back to the soil surface as soon as the foliage is there, to deplete them, but that's a long term job.
Otherwise, it's a chemical solution I'd reckon.

Alternatively, can you plant some other groundcover, using small plants that you can slot in easily, to cover the foliage while it dies down? Good old geraniums etc.

B3

Just keep hoeing them as they as soon as they pop up each year and forget about them until the next year. some will even give up!

Pete.8

Thanks both - I had a feeling there would be no easy solution.
I'll pull and hoe and hope for the best.