I miss Gardenweb.

Agree, this new format is so clunky, I can hardly understand the discussions and have to keep clicking to see if something new has been added.

Gardenweb used to have dead threads, too, but it sure seems like Houzz is spread too thin -- way too many subs and, yes, clunky. It's a pain to post, search, even buy something.

Buy something?

You just have to dig the roots out with your fingers or a hand fork. Or hoe them off in dry weather when they're very small.

If this is a solid patch of unwanted growth, you could smother it under corrugated cardboard with mulch on top, or newspaper if you have the patience. Hard to get enough layers to lay still enough to be covered with mulch.

If you need to remove individuals, you might like a thing called Cobrahead. I have one, excellent for loosening unwanted seedlings that break like you described, with very little effort - a hammering motion, not a digging one. Hammer the tip next to the unwanted plant, then push it sideways to POP the roots loose and up.