This weed has been a scourge to my south side garden for nearly a decade. When I was just beginning to garden, I misidentified emerging goutweed foliage as a bugbane (Actaea racemosa) and actually introduced it into the garden. (What a nerd!) It has been a major pest every since.
A couple of years ago, I completely dug up the bed removing perennial wildflowers, bulbs, and every visible goutweed root/rhizome. I added oak leaf and Annabelle hydrangeas along with Solomon's seal, regal lily, and Autumn Joy sedum. I hoped to remove all the goutweed, but I knew that was impossible. Even the smallest piece of root will re-sprout. So Plan B was to add tough, tall, aggressive plants in the hope that they would at least keep the goutweed at bay.
No such luck. Goutweed quickly re-sprouted against the chain link fence where many roots were hiding. They spread out among the hydrangeas, and by 2008 they were back as strong as ever.
This ability to grow among other plants makes goutweed an invasive plant, not just a garden pest. Forest edges being the most susceptible habitat. The rhizomes can run along the ground, just below the surface, and several inches deep as they rapidly spread. These deep rhizomes are known to survive even systemic herbicides. Once established, goutweed leaves the gardener few options.
In 2008 , I was reduced to pulling top growth every few weeks from under the hydrangeas and Solomon's seal. However, I am thinking of turning the entire bed into a vegetable garden. Hopefully, the exposure and yearly tilling will hinder its spread. Stay tuned.
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