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Treatment for goutweed #871840

Asked June 06, 2024, 8:18 AM EDT

If I use a solution of either: 20% cider vinegar OR Citric oil Will it be effective during one years time applying approx four times over soil which I dug down 8” and put cleared it of that dug out soil, roots, and plants of goutweed? AND Will it Not Harm out beautiful maple about 15’ from the mess of the goutweed. I would be treating an area that is about 25% of the maple’s root territory.

Windham County Vermont

Expert Response

Hello Peggy, 

Thanks or reaching out to the EMG Helpline! We're sorry to hear about your goutweed. 

I checked in with Ann Hazelrigg for treatment recommendations. She suggested corn gluten, which is a registered organic herbicide that works on pre-emergent weeds. She emphasized that it's important to read the label directions to see if there are any limitations applying it near a maple, but she thinks it could be worth a try.
https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/earth-harvest-gluten-8-liquid-corn-gluten-pre-emergent-weed-killer/weed-control-chemical-free-home-care?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvd5cfCjI_PJk1T6BH-5pMac04sh9M8UfaAjKAoJZSr-5rtIWRWLh5xoCP5oQAvD_BwE


Our friends over at the Maine Extension have a great article on this weed, which can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mnap/features/invasive_plants/aegopodium.html. They advise that "hand-pulling will not extract the deeply growing rhizomes, so digging tools are required. Dispose of rhizomes in bags in trash to prevent spread. Repeated excavation will be required. Mowing can slow the spread but is unliekly to exhaust large patches. Poor results are reported for covering with tarps and plastic sheeting. Goutweed is a tenacious ground cover and an excellent candidate for a systemic herbicide application (triclopyr or glyphosate solution). Apply as a foliar spray during the growing season. Good results have been reported for mowing first and then spraying the leafy regrowth. Multiple treatments may be required."


We hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reach back out if you have additional questions. 

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