Help needed on problem: goutweed in rose border

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

3 years ago, I formed a long, winding border of peonies, roses, and hydrangeas which runs alongside my neighbor's property. They have an invasive groundcover which is popping up in my border....pretty sure it is goutweed. Last year I put down landscape fabric and covered it with wood chips, plus took the extra precaution of putting down landscape timbers and----using what materials I had on hand----roofing tiles to form a barrier between their property and mine.

This certainly slowed down the goutweed, but this spring they are popping up all over in the cracks and any place which is uncovered, usually near the roses and other plants. I am at my wits end with pulling it, as it spreads by underground runners and it seems an almost endless task to get it all out.

Is it a losing battle? Can roses co-exist with goutweed? Does anyone have experience with this combination?

Featured Answer

Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Vicky,

Eradication can occur, but it takes time, and you must be persistent.

Do not dig it out. That only multiplies it.

Do not till the soil. That only multiplies it.

Every time you see a goutweed sprout, cut it back at ground level and discard in the trash. Do not dig it out. Be careful handling it, wear gloves that can be washed afterward. Do not compost it or toss it into the woods or over a hill side. Wash your cutting tools, too.

This is actually a very easy method of eradication. It doesn't much energy, or long, dirty, weeding/digging sessions, just regular diligence. It takes regular walks around your garden cutting shoots at ground level. It does take a certain amount of time every week, and maybe for a couple of years, maybe more.

What you are doing is destroying goutweed's capacity to feed itself by removing its leaves, killing it by starvation.

What's nice about this method is the psychological victory you experience, and uplifted spirit restored, knowing that you are winning, albeit slowly, but in the end you win, goutweed looses!

You will look forward to making your extermination rounds in your garden, knowing every shoot you cut back to the ground is one step closer to victory.

If you lapse in your diligence, don't beat yourself up. Just recover your determination and pick up where you left off.

Goutweed can come up so close to the stems or in the middle of clumps of choice plants and hide from you. Sneaky devils! Carefully cut them trying hard to leave your choice plants uninjured. DO NOT DISTURB THE SOIL. Just know goutweed shoots will try hard to pop up again, but each time they do they are weaker and weaker until they disappear.

This is my solution to your dilemma. One that works.

There are cases of gardeners who have been combating goutweed by digging it out religiously for thirty years and have made no headway.

Moses

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Comments (9)

Sarah z8
7 years ago
I feel your pain! My old neighbors did no yard work. Honestly, a pre emergent was the only thing that really worked. I layed it on thick Spring and fall. Preen works pretty good and sold in huge bags at Costco, or Snapshot from Amazon.

After the first year of pulling what I could and spreading Preen, the difference was very noticeable. I've tried vinegar spray, but it kills everything and the run off too. I wouldn't try it. I hope that helps some. Maybe someone else has ideas.
vickysgarden thanked Sarah z8
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nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
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I totally agree with Moses' method which others (and I ) have used to get rid of trumpet vine, that scourge. Diane
vickysgarden thanked nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
marcindy
7 years ago
The only thing I would add Vicky is that you should also talk to your neighbors. they might not know what an invasive thug they have in their yard. If they don't remove the source planting you are facing an endless battle I am afraid to say. If they need a groundcover for that bed maybe you could give them some free consultation on how to kill goutweed and plant something more benign? I am so sorry to hear you have to deal with this menace. Your border sounds lovely!
vickysgarden thanked marcindy
User
7 years ago
Moses, thank you, thank you THANK YOU for proposing this safe, effective way of dealing with weeds. Weed-killer is poisonous for people as well as for weeds!
vickysgarden thanked User
vickysgarden
Original Author
7 years ago
I really appreciate all the input. Moses, I loved your idea...but I wonder if in the end I would really be fighting a losing battle, as with that adjacent patch of goutweed on my neighbor's property, new plants would always be creeping in, I am afraid. Am I forever then doomed to "making the rounds" of pulling it out? It is a big border and would be very time-consuming....sigh. Yet...I know that it is really just a very tiny irritation, and nothing to let myself get upset over.
summersrhythm_z6a
7 years ago
I'd tell your neighbors to spray weed killer, I have to spray it this weekend. I don't have the time to pull weeds out.
vickysgarden thanked summersrhythm_z6a
Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks all, for your expressions of appreciation.

Remember, there is no goutweed pulling/digging up with my method, just cutting the stem as close to the soil level as you can. It's lickity-split quick, not tiring or dirty work, and all you have to do is gather up the victims. In open areas why not use a weed wacker. Close up to your valuable plants you have to be more careful.

With encroaching goutweed from your neighbors, perhaps you can get them to take your lead and do what you are doing. If not, just be especially attentive to your property perimeters.

At first, the task seems insurmountable, but as you make headway in your battle, and know success will come, you become victorious in your mind.

Moses
vickysgarden thanked Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
stillanntn6b
7 years ago
Thank you for posting this. First weed I've neither heard of nor experienced.

Goutweed invasive alien with photos
vickysgarden thanked stillanntn6b

Help needed on problem: goutweed in rose border

Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA

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Sarah z8

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Help needed on problem: goutweed in rose border

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