We have this growing over one of the banks in our garden. It's not causing a problem but I'd like to know what it is and whether we should try and cut it back to keep it under control?
Looks like ground elder to me. The roots are very invasive and the only real ways to control it are to either dig out the roots completely (almost impossible as any little bit left will regenerate) or to use a herbicide.
No doubt some will say leave it alone or that you can eat it, but having had to deal with this in my own garden I would urge you to srongly consider spraying the whole area with glyphosate based weedkiller in late spring and repeating as necessary.
Last edited: 11 February 2017 19:18:50
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
It looks to me like Alexanders - reputedly introduced to the UK by the Romans who grew it as a vegetable. It is very popular with foragers and I suggest that the best way of keeping it under control will be to harvest and eat it.
And cut it down each year before it seeds, then it won't spread from its allotted space.
But get it checked by someone knowledgable before eating it as there are some vaguely similar plants which would do you no good if you ate them.
Last edited: 11 February 2017 19:19:30
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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To up load a photo, start with the camera icon. Not too large a pic
In the sticks near Peterborough
Looks like ground elder to me. The roots are very invasive and the only real ways to control it are to either dig out the roots completely (almost impossible as any little bit left will regenerate) or to use a herbicide.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/ground-elder/
No doubt some will say leave it alone or that you can eat it, but having had to deal with this in my own garden I would urge you to srongly consider spraying the whole area with glyphosate based weedkiller in late spring and repeating as necessary.
Last edited: 11 February 2017 19:18:50
It looks to me like Alexanders - reputedly introduced to the UK by the Romans who grew it as a vegetable. It is very popular with foragers and I suggest that the best way of keeping it under control will be to harvest and eat it.
And cut it down each year before it seeds, then it won't spread from its allotted space.
But get it checked by someone knowledgable before eating it as there are some vaguely similar plants which would do you no good if you ate them.
Last edited: 11 February 2017 19:19:30
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A photo taken now in the garden (or maybe tomorrow morning) would distinguish between these two.
In the sticks near Peterborough
ground elder is more pointed than rounded.
I've got it, whatever it is , here, but never knew a name for it.