I recently moved into a house with what I thought was a beautiful garden, but I've discovered that the lush green plant on the side, known as bishop's weed (or goutweed), is actually invasive and spreading rapidly. It's encroaching into flower beds that have my hydrangeas, roses, and other plants. I tried to dig it out today, but the roots are incredibly deep and intricate, which left me feeling pretty defeated. I can't use herbicides because I have a dog and a small child. I've heard that planting Mexican marigolds can help, but I live in zone 7a. Has anyone successfully dealt with this problem? I've never gardened before, and I'm unsure how to proceed. My extension office suggested digging it out, but how do I manage all that dirt and the extensive roots? It feels overwhelming, and I know it's slowly taking over more of my yard!
5 Answers
I wouldn't dig it out if I were you! That can just fragment the roots and spread the problem even further since they go pretty deep. Instead, cover it with a dark, impermeable material and let it exhaust itself over time. I've also done some manual removal of any foliage that pops up, which forces the plant to use up its energy, but it's a time-consuming process. I only wish the previous owner had done some research before planting it!
If you're up for it, just mow it down as often as you can. Daily if needed! Eventually, it'll tire out and give up on growing. Just be ready for a long battle!
I’ve been fighting the same battle for about a decade. The good news? I’ve managed to keep it contained in my yard! If you can get at the root nodes—the little lumps where the leaves and roots grow—you’re halfway there. Just grab your tools, find a nice day, and dig them out. Keep them from flowering, and you should see progress! If there’s too much to compost, just throw them with your regular yard waste. You got this!
I managed to rid my garden of goutweed by digging up every square foot to the depth of the roots and screening the soil to get all the bits. It was a lot of work, but it worked for me! If digging seems too daunting, you might want to consider covering it with thick black plastic for a year or two to smother it. I've also had some success with solarizing if you're interested in trying that route. It’s frustrating to see these invasives still on sale at garden centers, though!
I’ve tried various methods including weed blockers and spraying. Currently, I’m hand-digging it out section by section. It’s a tedious job, but it’s proving effective! Just make sure to pull out the entire root node when you can. Yeah, it takes time, but gradually you’ll get it under control. Just stay persistent!