Our exotic border was invaded by ground elder hitching a lift with lily of the valley. By allowing a canopy of growth to evolve, the weed is shaded out and I won't be leaving a bare patch of soil at the front empty for long
Q I can't seem to rid a border of ground elder by digging it out, as it returns from around the base of shrubs and from under a fence. What large-leaved plants will shade it out?
Teresa Birchill, Longford, Gloucester
A The white flower umbels of ground elder are typical of plants in Apiaceae, the cow parsley family, and non-gardeners could be forgiven for wondering why their gardening friends hate this plant so much. The answer lies below ground-because ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) fills the soil beneath its leaves with a spaghetti-like mass of underground rhizomes. Not for nothing is it also called 'devil's guts'.
This story is from the April 16, 2022 edition of Amateur Gardening.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 16, 2022 edition of Amateur Gardening.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters
