Garden Weed In The Uk
GROUND ELDER
Aegopodium podagraria
Ground elder reaches a height of about 1m (3ft). It spreads very quickly if left to its own devices. Easily identified by the characteristic white flowers.
BLACK MEDICK
Medicago lupulina
Black Medick is commonly found in lawns, especially short cut lawns. Good lawn culture should overcome this low creeping weed. Don’t cut the lawn too close
COUCH GRASS
Elymus repens
The Roots are very dense in the soil and go down about 15cm (6in). The other key identifier is that couch grass will not be killed by burying it under ground as happens with normal grass.
Weak Points of couch Grass
Couch grass is shallow rooted, no long taper like roots going deep into the ground. The roots of couch grass typically go down about 10cm (4in) and rarely more than 15cm (6in).
If the soil is well-dug, the roots of couch grass can be pulled out with relative ease.
Digging of the soil weakens couch grass.
Couch grass produces less seed than most grasses
BINDWEED
Convolvulus arvensis
Bindweed and Bellbind are very similar in appearance and can be treated the same. Very invasive, they require persistent weeding to eradicate them. Their roots can go down 5m (16ft).
WHITE CLOVER
Trifolium repens
White Clover is often found in cultivated grass. It spreads easily. Without resorting to a chemical weed killer, this weed is difficult to eradicate. Dig up each plant with the roots and as much of the runners as possible. Don’t cut the lawn too close.
WALL BARLEY
Hordeum murinum
Wall Barley is relatively easy to control. Simply cut is low so that no seeds fall on the soil. Existing seeds will only survive two years so the regular cutting this weed can be eradicated in two years.
STINGING NETTLE
Urtica dioica
Wait for a day when the soil is damp, equip yourself with a stout pair of gloves and pull each nettle up by gripping it near the base and gently ease it out of the soil with the roots.
SUN SPURGE
Euphorbia helioscopia
Can irritate the skin, and if eaten will cause significant sickness. The seeds last for 8 years in the ground so don’t let them et seed. The weed can be pulled up individually by hand.
THISTLE
There are a wide varieties of thistles but they should be treated the same. Either hoe as soon as they are noticed or weed them individually when the soil is damp.
LESSER TREFOIL
Trifolium dubium
A difficult weed to eradicate, especially in lawns. It spreads by runners and seed. The seeds remain viable for 20 years. Hand weed, removing as much of the runners as possible.
DANDELION
Taraxacum
With their long tap roots Dandelions are difficult to eradicate. On top of that the seeds remain viable for 15 years. Hand weed on a day when the soil is moist. Pull up as much of the root as possible.
MAYWEED
Matricaria recutita
Mayweed is not particularly invasive so individual plants can be hand weeded when the soil is damp. Don’t let it flower because the seeds stay viable for over 10 years in the soil.
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