How to Kill Variegated Ginger Roots

Cut off all the foliage and flowers growing out of the roots you plan to destroy, using your pruning shears. Pile them together and use the machete to reduce them into 1-inch pieces. Dispose of these pieces in the compost pile.

Turn the hose on and soak the area where the roots are growing to loosen the soil and make the root easier to remove. Run the hose until the top 3 to 5 inches are muddy. Ginger can form root networks that are more than 1 foot thick, so keep the hose handy.

Use your pick to loosen the soil. Dig out the roots and the 3 inches of soil surrounding the roots. Pull on the plants, if necessary. Make sure all pieces of the root have been removed. Run the hose again, if necessary.

Cut the ginger pieces into 1/4-inch cubes and compost them. You may also use these to cook with, if desired. Do a taste test as the flavor is similar to that of cooking ginger, but not identical.

Shovel soil into the empty area and sprinkle with grass seed. Keep an eye on your remaining ginger plants in the future, cutting back and removing roots to prevent them from taking over your garden.