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Are these weeds?

tombigglestonetombigglestone Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hello all,

Please excuse my first post being a question, but I've recently planted a small wildflower meadow to the side of my back patio. I de-littering and sieving the soil. Among the many brilliant wildflowers that have grown from the seeds, I have noticed a set of plants growing towards the fence, which appear larger and stronger than the rest. I had thought they were also wildflowers as they grew exactly the same time as the others grew, but I fear they might be weeds. Can anyone identify them and advise on whether I should get rid of them?

With many thanks in advance!

Tomimage

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    I'm not sure what they are, but a wildflower is a weed if you don't want it! Those do look rather vigorous and weedy, I agree. Those flowers aren't much to celebrate, are they? Away with them, give the borage more roomimage

  • tombigglestonetombigglestone Posts: 3

    Realised my first pic doesn't really get up close - here's another!image

    Thanks - yes good point about wildflowers! Thank you for your reply!

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016

    If they look as if they will overpower the other plants I would pull them out.

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530

    Now we can see it better, it looks like annual mercury.  "Weed" isn't a botanical term - any plant can be a weed if it's growing where it's not wanted.  Weeds come in two kinds: annual weeds, like your mercury, which are shallow-rooted and complete their lifecycle in a year.  They are easy to pull out, and if you do it before they flower, you'll keep them under control.  Those green tassels on the mercury are flowers, so best pull them out, or at least cut the tops off, soon, otherwise next year you'll have their offspring to deal with.  Perennial weeds are more problematic, because they have deep roots and get bigger every year.  Some die down in winter and you think they've gone but the roots are still there and will regrow in spring.

    PS. I once ate some annual mercury by mistake, and it was quite tasty.  Twenty minutes later I started feeling queasy and my lunch and I parted company.  I was fine after that, but I wouldn't recommend it!

    Last edited: 02 September 2017 14:10:06

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