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Introducing creeping cinquefoil into wild lawn (reckless?)

micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
in Plants
My lawn is not very large -- total area 40 sqm over two patches and some paths. It is not entirely deserving of the epithet lawn, as I encourage it to be weedy, so it has daisies, white clover, self-heal, yarrow and moss in abundance. What I am after is plants that survive mowing, as most of the lawn is kept mown throughout the year. I am now wondering whether I might introduce creeping cinquefoil as well. My worry is that it may be too thuggish. It does not easily self-seed it seems from descriptions, but creeps like mad. My lawn is sharply edged in most places, and there is a 15cm dark trough around it. Any opinions on whether this is a mad idea?

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I don't find this is one that flowers in mowed grass, even if not mowed often.


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    Thanks @nutcutlet; I am still pondering this, and what frightens me a bit is the deep tap roots plus its ability to throw really long stems around, so it could easily romp into the border. Additionally there is the possibility I might throw pieces of it into the border that will subsequently root, as I use a Swedish hand mower, if that's what it is called. But if someone says it's not all that bad I'd give it a shot. It's difficult to research online.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Your fears are justified :) 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    If you want to introduce a horrible weed.. I would suggest creeping buttercup, it does flower in a mown lawn, If your yarrow manages to flower cinquefoil might, how about silverweed? (Potentilla anserina) slightly less invasive in my experience, it has the same flowers but even if it doesn't manage to flower it does have pretty silver leaves.

    personlay I fight a losing battle against creeping cinquefoil and buttercup, but seem to manage to hold my own on the silverweed.. I'm happy enough with my clover and dandelion patch I call a lawn!

  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    @Skandi I actually don't mind it not flowering .. creeping buttercup has a similar reputation I guess, so i'll stay clear also after @nutcutlet's confirmation. Thanks, I'll have a look at silverweed, and I have started a thread in the wildlife section to see if people have ideas/experience. We're not allowing dandelions ... completely lovely plant though it is. I also wonder about speedwell, but some species are not native and invasive, and it's the same thing with mown bits rooting everywhere I think.
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