The Bane of my Garden Existence

[Teena]

These weeds are the bane of my gardening existence. They are invasive as can be, the roots, picture 1, grow like a runner underground, leave behind many hair roots in the soil when you dig them up so you're never rid of them. Last Fall I dug up 14 five gallon buckets of them from my front garden, digging down as far as 18 inches. I just call them the evil rooty weed but I'm sure that they have a name. It was curioriosity that made me pull a plant in the backyard, which is basically moss, rock and weeds. When I saw the root structure I had a eureka moment and thought this is what the evil rooty weed looks like when I let it grow. So the roots, the plant, a patch of them and a close up of the leaves.




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[panam]

Aww, but they're so pretty, Martha! I guess it's true: a weed is any plant that grows where it isn't wanted.

I had a very busy winter and didn't keep on top of the weeds in my back yard. Boy, oh, boy, am I paying now - it seems as if I have shrubs and small trees to remove now!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Good luck, Martha. That weed has huge roots! Must steal lots of the nutrients from your garden.

..... it seems as if I have shrubs and small trees to remove now!

That happens to me all the time. I have so many blackberry vines growing in my hedges that I'm not really sure what to do at this point. ugh..

cheers,
BD

[Teena]

Oh Bruce - those roots are small, I've dug out some that are a foot long, as thick as a big old carrot and have runners 18 inches long with branches! When I pulled those I probably left 14 generations of family members behind to repopulate with a vengence. - martha

[Janet]

Why don't you take it to the Arnold Arboretum for identification? Arnold Arboretum » Plant Hotline

[panam]

That happens to me all the time. I have so many blackberry vines growing in my hedges that I'm not really sure what to do at this point. ugh..

Blackberry preserves!

[opaline]

Martha, here we nickname this plant wild garlic or hedgerow garlic or most common hedge garlic. Very vigorous and fast growing some 3 inches a day when sun and suffcient water is ample. Grows alongside foxgloves in woodland and meadows. The chinese girl that lives with us will use it in cooking/ soups. Garlic/ chive smell strongest when leaves are crushed.

,Alliaria periolata, Jack by the hedge, garlic mustard

[opaline]

if you have an area martha where it wont be planted after such as drive or pathway good doses of salt. Water in first lot and apply salt again and leave as toxic enviro will kill it roots and all. They are tough like brambles, himalayam balsam, jap knotweed, horsetail and they cope with drought all toooo easily moes the pity. Vigorous attention, persistance and effort is really the only way without chems.

My enemy is scutch grass designed to be very hard and tough as the roots in nature anchor to the substrate beneath the sand layer om dunes. Drought lover also.

[Teena]

Thanks everyone, Sam the Plantman at the garden shop nodded his head when I brought it to him after he told me to put that back in the bag and take it home in no uncertain terms! It's called Garlic Mustard here and is a highly invasive weed that can wipe out everything else: PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) I've been battling it for years, a war it may win, Sam sez POISON it. - martha

[opaline]

The plant does react to constant digging and pruning and weaken plants quite easily. Farmers hate it as dairy cows get tainted milk. Injecting a plant with systemic poison/ weedkiller along stems. Worth a shot with bramble also but is easier with knotweed as stems are more airy. Soil drench with poisons wont be good enough for this one and seeds for previous years lay dormant for nearly 2 yearss before burstin into life.