Weeds problem

Arv · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 1

My garden seems to be taken over by weeds . it seems I have three type of weeds see the pics. They seems to be grown quite big and spearding across the garden. I tried weedoll with no sucess. Any help/suggestion would be of help.

BR/
Arv

Liparis · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

no. 1 looks like a milk thistle, 2 & 3 Docks and 4 a member of the Crowsfoot. I'm fraid I have dificulty seeing photographs like this. Thyat's my best guess with what I see. 2 & 3 are dedfinately Docks.
Bill.

cooler · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Weeds problem

Liparis · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject:

Sorry, I was interupted and forgot to add what weedkiller to use.
cooler's right.
Bill.

medieval knievel · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject:

if you just keep chopping them back you'll weaken the roots - it involves work, though.

michael brenock · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject:

no 1 is Corn Sowthistle annual
no.2 is broad leaved dock perennial
no.3 is broad leaved dock perennial
no. 4 is smooth sow thistle annual
annuals are simply pulled up and destroyed before they go to seed
The perennials can be rooted up but are more difficult to shift.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

JennyS · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject:

1. is more likely Prickly Sow-thistle, Sonchus asper which is an annual, Corn Sow-thistle, Sonchus arvensis is more commonly known as Perennial Sow-thistle and has different shaped leaves:

http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/143a.html Prickly Sow-thistle
http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/pages/220a.html Perennial (or corn) Sow-thistle

If you don't want to poison your ground with weedkiller the Sow-thistles will pull up fairly easily. The Docks will need to be dug out making sure you get all the root and whatever you do don't then put them on the compost heap as they will re-grow!

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

Instead of taking photos of them and trying to decide which deadly poisons to use , wouldn't it make more sense to just grab them, pull them up and throw them on the compost heap? Smile

(I put docks on mine - roots and all.)

Garlicbreath · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 12:06 pm Post subject:

I agree with Sean Ph'lip. You can either pull or dig them up if you can get at them. Where they're between paving slabs then zapping them with one of those gas guns is an environmentally friendly way of eradicating them. All those weeds are an indicator of fertile soil so be glad you have them Smile