|
Here is a summary of the weed control strategies as supplied by Sally Cunningham.
Noxious weeds
All these should be either close-composted for at least 2 years, skipped or burnt once removed from the soil. Various weedkillers can be used – glyphosate is probably the most widely available and least harmful.
English name |
Latin name |
Speads by |
Control methods |
*Coltsfoot |
Tussilago forfara |
Seed, roots |
Dig out during dormant season: hoe off remainder regularly: remove seedheads before they ripen |
Couch grass |
Agropyron repens |
Seed, roots |
Mulch for 2 years: dig out as above: hoe whenever visible above ground |
*Creeping buttercup |
Ranunculus repens |
Seed, roots |
As above:
NB Always worse in wet years |
Creeping thistle |
Cirsium arevense |
Seed, roots |
Hoe, mulch heavily for 2 years plus: dig out during winter. Alternatively, pull out stems as just about to flower |
*Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale |
Seed, roots |
Mulch, dig out, hoe off – do not compost flowerheads |
* Docks |
Rumex spp |
Seed, roots |
Dig out, hoe off, mulch for 2 years: do not allow to flower |
False alkanet |
Pentaglossis sempervirens |
Roots: rarely seeds |
Dig out, hoe off and mulch for 3 years: NB Valuable early footplant for bees. |
*Fireweed |
Epilobium arvense |
Seed, roots |
As above. |
*Great bindweed |
Calystegia sepium |
Seed, roots |
Dig out in winter: hoe off whenever above ground: mulch heavily for 2-3 years |
Ground Elder |
Aegopodium podgraria |
Seed, roots |
As above |
*Horsetail |
Equisitum arvense |
Spores, roots |
As above: feeding soil with heavy compost or FYM applications will encourage other crops to slowly shade/squash it out |
Lesser bindweed |
Convulvulus arvensis |
Roots (rarely seeds) |
Dig out in winter: hoe off whenever above ground: mulch heavily for 3 years |
*Ragwort |
Senecio jacobea |
Seed, roots |
Pull out plants by roots before flowering |
Spear thistle |
Cirsium lanceolata |
Seed, roots |
As above: heavy mulch for 2 years: dig out in winter |
NB Those marked * can be removed with persistance: those not marked are always going to be present in small amounts.
Less persistant but annoying perennial weeds.
All these can be controlled by hoeing or handweeding: the leaves only are valuable additions to the compost heap
Can be removed totally within a few seasons – keep going!
English name |
Latin name |
Spread |
Control methods |
Codlins and cream |
Epilobium hirsutum |
Seed, roots |
Dig out during dormant season – hoe off when ever it pokes through, pull out plants before flowering |
Comfrey |
Sympytum spp |
Seed (except for Bocking 14): roots |
Dig out druing dormant season: cut off and compost before flowering: mulch for 3 years plus |
Goldenrod |
Solidago spp |
Seed: roots |
Dig out, pull out, hoe off |
Herb bennet |
Geum urbanum |
Seed |
Dig out whenever seen: hoe off: mulch for 18 months |
Evening primrose |
Oenothera biennis |
Seed |
Dig out (roots edible in winter): hoe off |
Nettles |
Urticaria dioca |
Seed, roots |
Dig out in early spring: hoe off
NB food plants for butterfly larvae |
Plantain |
Plantago vulgaris |
Seed: persistant rosette |
Dig out, hoe off, mulch for a season |
Annoying annual weeds – remove whenever found by handweeding or hoeing – do not compost if in flower as seed sets even after plant has died.
Cleavers
Groundsel
Hairy bitter cress
Hop trefoil and relatives (NB fixes nitrogen from roots)
Sowthistles
Scarlet pimpernel
Sun spurge
Tares (NB fixes nitrogen from roots)
Annual Willowherbs
Almost all the other weeds found can be tolerated around the edge of the plot or in odd corners to act as a food source for beneficial insects and birds.If they are growing in the wrong place, remove them – it’s your plot to work how you want!
|