Landscaping Services Matt Griffiths Garden design About Us

0"Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste."

William Shakespeare.

0What is a Weed?

A plant growing where it is not wanted.

"A weed is a plant whose virtues are yet to be discovered" Poet Emerson

One years seeding, several years weeding.

0Characteristics of an ideal weed.

Fast growing and competitive

Spread by Rhizomes, Seed, Runners and Fragments

High Seed Output

Self Pollinating

Germination requirements fulfilled in many environments

Tolerates a wide range of environments

Competes with other plant species by special means, chocking, competing for water and nutrients.

Allelochemicals, produce chemicals that stop other plants growing

Continuous production of seed (ephemeral)

Adapted for short and long distance dispersal

0Weeds are either annual, re-producing from seed, or perennial.

0Annual Weeds

0A plant that is an annual completes its flowering plant lifecycle in the space 0of one year it flowers at any time of year.

0It is essential to kill annual weeds before they seed.

0Annual weeds have a fibrous root system which makes them easier to 0control than perennial weeds.

0Weedkillers

0Most useful weed-killers for killing established annual weeds, are:-

Glyphosate

Paraquat with Diquat

0Germination can be controlled with:-

Simazine

0Manual Weeding

0Hoes

0For best results weeds should be hoed on a good drying day, when they will 0die quickly. They should be cut off at about soil level so that the stems are 0separated from the roots.

0Digging & Forking

0By neatly inverting blocks of soil you can bury the weeds at a depth from 0which they cannot emerge. However this only works if the soil is fairly heavy 0and cohesive. On stony soil the weeds cannot be effectively buried and must 0be forked out.

0Hand weeding

0It is best to wait until the weeds are quite large but not yet seeding and the 0pull them out as near to the ground as possible.

0Mulching

0This is normally applied in spring to warm moist soil, a layer of 2-3 inches 0thick (Further information to follow shortly.)

0Perennial Weeds

0A perennial weed has a continuous plant lifecycle, usually flowering in the 0months of June - October. Some could be classed as ephemeral which 0means they complete more than one lifecycle in a year.

0Perennial weeds seed too, but it is their root systems which cause most 0trouble. Unlike annual weeds, perennials have a well developed root, often 0creeping on the ground or surface. They usually possess a tap root 0(Dandelions) or rhizomes and runners (Thistles and Bindweed).

0The root must be completely removed or killed to prevent new plants 0regenerating. Even if a piece of root a couple of millimeters long is left in the 0ground this will then develop into a new plant.

DO NOT PUT PERENNIAL WEEDS ON THE COMPOST HEAP.

0Weed Killers

Glyphosate

MCPA

2,4-D

SBK & Paraffin

Selective weed-killers

0Manual Weed Killing.

0The only real manual weed-killing that is effective is digging out and picking 0the roots out by hand.

0Weeds

0The following weeds are some of the most common that you will find 0growing. It will give you a general idea of how they spread, when they flower 0and how to control them manually or chemically.

0Buttercups.

0The most common type is creeping buttercup it can cover a large area at an 0alarming rate.

0Creeping Buttercup. Ranunculus repens

0A very common weed, especially in lawns. It prefers heavy wet soils and 0flowers May - August.

0It spreads by runners which creep along the surface of the soil and roots at 0intervals which forms new plants and the process continues.

0They anchor themselves very firmly in the soil making them difficult to pull out 0by hand. Digging with a spade or fork makes it easier by hand. Fortunately it 0is sensitive to all selective weedkillers - weedkillers containing MCPA or 02,4-D.

0Lesser Celandine. Ranunculus ficaria (Figwort)

0Not a major weed. It

0prefers damp and shady sites and flowers March - May.

0It grows from underground bulbils and spreads by short creeping stems 0which grow from the bulbils.

0It is very difficult to dig out and proves rather resistant to selective 0weed-killers. Apply a weed-killer on a warm day in late spring, either 0glyphosate or a weedkiller with two or more ingredients.

0Chickweeds -

0Common Mouse-Ear Chickweed Cerastium holosteoides

0Major weed. Grows in all soils, prefers chalky dry soil, flowers between April - September.

0This weed spreads by dense clusters of creeping stems with prostrate 0leaves which forms a large silvery mat. It has small white clustered flowers.

0Can be hoed, sprayed or dug and pulled out by hand.

0Selective weedkiller containing dicamba or mecoprop is effective.

0Common Chickweed Stellaria media

0There are a few differences with this weed compared to the Common 0Mouse Ear Chickweed is the leaf is heart-shaped and stalked unlike the leaf 0on the Mouse-Ear Chickweed is oval and hairy plus the small white flowers 0have 5 divided petals with deep red stamens. It also flowers between 0February - November.

0Control is as above.

0Clovers

0Clovers are a major problem for many lawn owners. They prefer non acid 0and flower May - October.

0It is encouraged by a lack of water and nitrogen.

0Selective weed-killers are effective as well as a nitrogen rich fertilizer being 0applied every spring.

0White Clover Trifolium repens

0Small clumps can be dug out quite easily by hand, alternatives are water well 0in dry periods and apply a selective weed-killer in June-July repeating every 06-8 weeks if needed. A nitrogen rich fertilizer can also be used.

Lesser Trefoil. Trifolium dubium (Yellow suckling clover)

0This clover is an annual, hand weeding small clumps can be effective, 0however it is more resistant to selective weed-killers than the White Clover, 0so repeat treatments at 6-8 week intervals will be needed.

0Creeping Cinquefoil - Potentilla reptans

0Can be a nuisance weed. Spreads by creeping stems which root at 0intervals. Flowers June - September with a yellow flower.

0Selective weedkiller containing dicamba or mecoprop is effective but a 0couple of treatments will be needed.

0Dandelion Weeds

0There are two common dandelions:-

0Dandelion. Taraxacum officianale

0This is a perennial weed. You can hand weed but any bit of root left in the 0soil will produce a new plant.

0Spreads by seed and bits of root left in the ground.

0You can spot treat with chemicals (Glyphosate stick) or for a large area 0spray with a selective weed-killer.

0Cats-Ear. Hypocharis radicata

0A perennial weed, flowers May - September.

0Daisy. (Days eye) Bellis perennis

0More of a problem in lawns than borders. Flowers March - November.

0Spreads by creeping stems.

0Can be hand weeded, however it is easy to control with a selective 0weed-killer, containing two or more ingredients, for larger area. Repeat 0treatment every 6-8 weeks if necessary.

0Docks & Sorrels

0There are two common docks which grow in our gardens.

0Sheeps Sorrel. Rumex acetosella

0A problem in borders where the soil is not compacted. Flowers May - 0August.

0Spreads by creeping stems.

0Can be hand weeded when only a handful are present, make sure you dig all 0the roots out, With larger infected areas chemical control is more practical. 0Weed-killers containing MCPA or 2,4-D will be effective, apply in late spring 0and repeat, if necessary, 4-6 weeks later.

0Common Sorrel - Rumex acetosa

0Common weed. Flowers May - June

0Control is the same as above.

0Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica Mexican bamboo, Japanese 0fleece flower

0Japanese knotweed was believed to have been introduced to Britain by the 0Victorians around 1825. Since which time it has become a major problem.

0It spreads via an extensive and very rapidly growing rhizome system. New 0plants can grow from just a tiny fragment of root. Alot of infestations can be 0seen by rivers and streams as the roots are washed downstream and start 0growing on the banks.

0The roots can go down as far as 2m and can spread from between 7-10m 0from the parent plant.

0It is an offence to plant or encourage the plant to grow in the wild.

0It is also classed as a "controlled waste" so must be dispersed of safely at a 0licensed landfill site.

0for small infestations there are three main ways to try and combat the 0problems:-

Cutting

Digging & Pulling

Injection

0CUTTING

0Cut the stems to roughly 12 inches in height, or between the 1st and 2nd 0node on the stems, ensuring that you leave some of the foliage on the plant. 0Then apply a glyphosate weedkiller to the leaves and plant and cover with 0black plastic bags.

0The weedkiller will be translocated through the plant to the roots and 0Knotweed is weakened by lack of light.

0DIGGING

0If it is only a minor infestation you could try digging and pulling the weed out, 0but don't forget that the roots go down 1.5 - 2m. and all the roots need to be 0taken out otherwise it will grow again.

0INJECTION

0Cutting the stems and injecting a weedkiller, glyphosate, into the inside of 0the stem is being tried out in various parts of the country with positive 0results.

0For large infestations in fields that you want to build on you will have to 0contact a company who specialises in getting rid of Japanese knotweed, as 0well as working closely with the Department of Environmental Health due to 0the amount of chemicals needed to be used (water run off) plus the disposal 0of the plant.

0Plantains

0Plaintains grow everywhere, they are easily identifiable with their leathery 0and prominently ribbed leaves with erect spikes of small flowers.

0The three most common are:-

0Greater Plantain. (Broad Leaved Plantain) Plantago major

0Very common weed especially in compacted soil. Flowers May - 0September.

0If only a few are present they can be hand weeded with a fork. They have 0very strong roots on them when trying to just pull out by hand. All plantains 0are very sensitive to selective weed-killers containing MCPA or 2,4-D. A 0single application should be sufficient.

0Hoary Plantain (Lamb's tongue) Plantago media

0Very common weed. Prefers chalky and infertile soil. Flowers May - August.

0Control is the same as above.

0Ribwort. Plantago Lanceolta

0Very common weed. Prefers non-acid soil. Flowers April - September.

0Control same as above.

0Speedwells

0There are two nuisance speedwells.

0Slender Speedwells (Round-leaved speedwell) Veronica filiformis

0Major weed. Has a small mauve coloured flower on a thread like stalk.. It 0prefers damp soils. Flowers April - June.

0It spreads by creeping stems, rooting at intervals to form new plants.

0Unfortunately this weed is not resistant to most selective weedkillers. The 0selective weed-killer ioxynil was used to control this weed but is no longer 0available. A product containing dicamba or mecroprop could be used but 0constant repeat applications are needed. Hand weeding really is the only 0control.

0Germander Speedwell (Bird's eye speedwell) Veronica chamaedrys

0Common weed. Small blue-coloured flower with a white eye on a thread like 0stalk. Prefers damp soil. Flowers April-June.

0Spreads by creeping stems, as above.

0Control is the same as above.

0Thistles

0Thistles can be a nuisance in the garden

0Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense

0Common weed. Has the infamous lilac flower head and spiky leaves. 0Flowers between June - September.

0Spreads by its creeping roots.

0Can be controlled by hand weeding, spot treatment or spraying with a 0selective weedkiller containing dicamba or mecoprop. May need 0applications every 6 - 8 weeks.