Weeds
How do I get rid of a huge infestation of invasive Bishop’s Weed? It is into and under everything! I do not want to use Roundup.
The qualities that make a plant a good ground cover also make them terrible weeds. A ground cover needs to be resilient, able to spread quickly to fill a space and recover from any damage. They need to be relentless—like Roman legions—tightly grouped together and marching forward to take over new lands with a constant supply of fresh troops. Bishop’s weed—also known as box elder (Aegopodium podagraria)—is a similar invader. At first, it tempts us with its civilized ways—so attractive, so tidy, so bright. It seemed to be on our side, crowding out other weeds while supporting our garden culture.
Soon enough, though, its aggressive nature turned on us. It started crowding out other plants and dominating every bed it was in. It spread through fleshy underground roots (rhizomes) that could withstand a lot of damage and quickly bounce back. Worst of all, it sent out saboteurs through its seeds. These little spies would pop up in unsuspecting places—everywhere from other gardens to neglected areas, and, worst of all, our woods. It also lost its veneer of civility as new generations of seedlings stopped being variegated. Now, we have to live with the terror of its subsequent generations.
It's tough to root out. The roots are resilient, and they break easily, making it very difficult to eliminate. The seeds will always be there. I’m afraid the only way to deal with them is a constant battle.
Keep digging - you may not win the battle, but constant attrition will weaken it.
If you cannot dig it out, cut back the foliage - this doesn’t help much but it will reduce its food source and it will help eliminate the flowers
Don’t let it set seed!
Fewer seeds and reduced vigor won’t eliminate it, but it will make it a less formidable enemy.
Keep fighting the good fight!