Is this a weed?? Rude neighbour complaining

8 years ago

My husband and I were out cleaning up our garden in the backyard today and my neighbour (her backyard backs on to ours) started yelling at us through the fence that our “weeds” were coming into her garden. First of all, I didn’t think this was a weed (see pics below). This is our sending summer in the home and we didn’t do any of the planting of what’s there now, but I had thought it was some kind of ground cover plant. In any case, I don’t mind the way it looks and I’m inclined to leave it. Secondly, I peeked over at her garden through the fence and saw maybe 3 little sprouts of this ‘plant’ on her side. She basically demanded that we “pull it back” immediately and she was definitely not pleasant at it.

This is a freehold home neighbourhood - there’s no HOA or condo association. That said, I’m all about being neighbourly but I didn’t appreciate the way this lady was yelling at us and as I said I’m inclined to leave this as is and maybe remove some of the foliage along the fence but I’m not really sure how I can totally prevent any of it at all from popping onto her side. I mean my next door neighbour has a yard full of dandelions which he just lets grow and when they go to seed they blow through the fence onto my yard but there’s nothing I can really do about that other than maintain my own grass.

Anyway, getting back to my initial question...is this a weed?

Featured Answer

Jay 6a Chicago

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

It's Aegopodium. One of the worst weeds you can imagine. Spreads like crazy, and very hard to get rid of. No need for the neighbors to be rude. Friendly conversation is the better pathway.

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Comments (7)

peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Yes Aegopodium podagraria - Goutweed. Agree with Jay that it is a horrid endlessly spreading aggressive thug. Many people plant it but because of the relentless spread your neighbours will become unwanted owners of it too. What a shame they did not handle the situation in a friendly manner.
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gardengrl66 z5
8 years ago
My neighbors on both sides have this and I spend a disproportionate amount of my weeding time fighting it. Pulling, poisoning (I am not proud) but it gets really close to the roots of my desirable plants and is impossible to eradicate completely. That said, I've never yelled at anybody about its presence in areas that are not my property. And unless you are willing to completely pull it out the neighbors will just have to deal, I think :)
Mrs. N
Original Author
8 years ago
Darn. I was really hoping for an answer of “no that is not a weed”. :) I’ve done some reading on Goutweed and surprisingly I don’t really think this has really spread since last summer. Plus as I said, I don’t mind the way it looks

Anyway, short of killing the weed (which I’ve read can take some time and energy to do - being 4 months pregnant I’m not sure I can tackle that anytime soon) is there anything I can do to appease my rude neighbour, like install a barrier of some sort?
kimmq
8 years ago
Many people consider this a "weed" because for them it is an unwanted plant while just as many others consider a good ground cover, a desirable plant.

Some states list this as an invasive species and want people to eliminate it while others do not really mention it. Check with your local office of your states Cooperative Extension Service to see whether your state considers this an invasive plant.

By the way Dandelions are considered by many gardeners as wild flowers, not "weeds", while many farmers grow them as a cash crop because many restaurants like to include them in salads. Plus Dandelions are a good early spring source of nutrients for our bees.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b170
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
There is no specific classification for a "weed" :-) That is only a common term applied to any plant that is growing where it is not wanted. Aegopodium is a cultivated groundcover in many areas, especially the variegated form.........it just grows and spreads rather aggressively. Which is exactly what a groundcover is supposed to do!! However, it is difficult to control its spread unless the planting area is bordered by some sort of impermeable surface, like a walkway or concrete curbing.

You can put a barrier along the base of the fence if that is where it is encroaching on the neighboring property. Something like some sheet metal flashing that can be inserted down 6-8" into the soil.

I quite like the plant myself :-))
donna_in_sask
8 years ago
I can see why your neighbour would complain. It took me six years to get rid of it in my yard and I actually purchased the plant! It seems every single piece of root can make a new plant...so if you are digging it out, you have to sift out the roots. A barrier would slow it down but I doubt it would stop it from invading completely.