HELP! Weeds are taking over.
gemmacotton54
Posts: 2
I have finally got the time to try and make my garden look something a like and i have quite a few weeds that i am wanting to get rid of.
These are the pictures of the problems i currently have:
I know that 3 of the weeds is bindweed, thistles, and nettles but i don't know what the 4th one is (included in picture with the thistles). I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to gardening but i have been doing my research but i'm still a little confused if i'm honest, and hoping you guys can help give me advise and tell me what this unknown weed is.
With the bindweed, thistles and nettles from what i've read its best to use a Glyphosate weed killer and persistance is key (i know its not gunna be easy to budge but im determined), but with the bindweed when you cut it, it regrows even more. So if i use a Glyphosate weed killer, wait until the flowered plant is visibly dead then cut it away and continue when it regrows will the eventually eradicate it? And is this the best way to get rid of it and the other weeds? Also how often will i need to repeat the weed killing process?
With the unknown one, any help would be greatly appreciate on how to rid it and what it actually is.
Thanks guys i really appreciate any help!
Posts
The weed you don't recognise is a dock. If you use weedkiller you need to leave the dead foliage in place for a couple of weeks while the weedkiller kills the roots. Looking at picture I think weedkiller is the way to go. All those weeds have persistent roots which may regrow from tiny fragments.
It all depends on whether the other areas can be done manually, meaning good old fashioned hand weeding. You sound like you know what to do. With the bind weed, contact will bring it down to the roots but may need repeating. The period is possibly 1-2 weeks to see. The other thing to think about is if you are not in any hurry to plant, put a thick membrane cover areas to weaken any further weeds for the next 6 months.
The dock is the plant that provides the leaves that children rub on nettle stings to take away the pain.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It would be wise to carefully cut off the seed heads from the docks so as not to spill them.
An olde saying goes "one year's seeds, seven years weeds". Dock seeds have a viability for up to a century so minimizing the fallout is a good idea. Saying that though, they're easy enough to kill off with a hoe when young but once the taproot digs deep enough, they can be somewhat of a nuisance to get rid of.
Agreed Mike, bindweed is a nightmare once it gets established, the worst weed easily in my experience.