Gundermann, also known as Gundelrebe, is not entirely wrongly considered an unpopular weed in the garden. The small plant with its pretty flowers can quickly become a pest because it spreads almost unhindered. Combating it is difficult. How to destroy Gundermann in the garden.
How to fight groundworm in the garden?
To successfully combat Gundermann in the garden, you should tear out the mother plant including the roots, go after the runners and pull them out, and remove all root residues if possible. If the lawn is infested, continuously cutting out the plants helps.
This is how Gundermann spreads in the garden
Gundermann is a small, delicate, edible plant that reproduces via seeds, but especially via runners. The mother plant quickly forms tendrils up to two meters long, on which new plants emerge every ten centimeters apart.
Whether the soil is dry or compacted, whether the location is sunny or shady - it doesn't matter to the Gundermann. It grows in almost every spot, it doesn't even stop at walls.
Fighting Gundermann is advisable for two reasons. Gundel vine deprives other plants of light and nutrients, so that they thrive poorly and die. The herb is also very susceptible to fungal attack. There is a risk that surrounding plants will become infected.
How to remove Gundermann?
The trade offers some means of chemical control. Unfortunately, none of the current remedies have a long-term effect. So you can save yourself the effort because it's of little use anyway.
The best option is to go organic by removing the weeds by hand.
- Find mother plant
- pulling out the roots
- Follow foothills and move out
- Remove roots as completely as possible
Make sure that you get as many roots as possible, because Gundermann sprouts even from the smallest root residues.
Fighting Gundermann in the lawn
Gundelvine is so robust that it spreads even in dense lawns. Frequent mowing of the lawn, as is recommended when groundgrass occurs, is not advisable when combating groundworm. On the contrary, the short grass creates ideal conditions for further spread.
With Gundermann in the lawn, the only thing that helps is continually cutting out the plants.
Prevent spread
There are a few measures that will make it easier for you to combat Gundermann. On the one hand, the herb doesn't like stress. You won't find vines on sidewalks. If you want to leave Gundermann in shady places for underplanting, make sure that the garden area is separated by garden paths.
To prevent Gundermann from propagating through seeds, pluck the herb before it flowers if possible. You can recognize it by its characteristic leaves, which are a bit similar to ivy but smaller. That's why Gundermann is also called creeping ivy.
Let pulled Gundermann plants lie on a stone until they dry out. Then the roots cannot regenerate and you can dispose of the herbs in the compost.
Tip
Gundermann or Gundelrebe is not poisonous to humans. The leaves can be eaten in salads or used as a medicine. The flowers are very hot and were previously used as a pepper substitute.
