Can anyone identify this weed?!

[tasha]

Sorry if I'm in the wrong place - I'm new to this forum (and to attempting to garden in general...!) but we're just starting out and having huge problems identifying and getting rid of a weed. Is this familiar to anyone and if so is there a good way to get rid of it without harming other plants?



Thanks very much for looking & any help !!!

Tasha

[tasha]

[Bugloss2009]

if I could see your weed, your PC would be in big trouble :D

you have to post it on somewhere like Photobucket

[tasha]

Sorry about that - I seemed to have a lot of trouble getting my image attached to the post (not only the weeds giving me trouble this weekend :-X ) Anyway, it's hopefully visible now so thanks again!!!

Tasha  :)

[saddad]

Looks horribly like Ground Elder to me...  :-\

[tasha]

Thanks saddad - I've had a look at some images and I think you're right!

It looks like we've got a lot of additional work on our hands now...  :(

[Baccy Man]

Dig out as much as you can, hoe it off regularly when it reappears & plant some Tagetes Minuta amongst it (the roots secrete a chemical which inhibits the growth of several nasty weeds including ground elder).
http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/chilternseeds/moreinfo/d/tagetes+minuta/pid/31512965

[tasha]

Thanks for the tips Baccy Man - that sounds like a great tip! 

[Digeroo]

Sounds great but does it deter other plants as well.  How long does the effect stay in the soil?

[Unwashed]

I agree, ground elder.  Virtually impossible to eradicate unless you dig everything out.  If it's in a mixed border you won't get rid of it unless you dig the whole border up.