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Help needed identifying a plant.

dean_howell707dean_howell707 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi everyone. I have some plants/weeds growing in an area that I seeded with grass seed. I want to get rid of it so the grass seed is not competing with it. Not sure what it is though. Does anyone recognise the plant in the pictures? 

It seems to be sprouting up in a large area. Just wondered if it a weed can I use something to kill it including the root?

Kind Regards
Dean
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Arum italicum - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/1658/i-Arum-italicum-i/Details

    A plant or a weed depending on where it is and whther or not you like it.  Lovely in woodland and wild hedgerows or wild corners of the garden.  Not so good in a lawn.

    It can be pulled up or dug out but tends to come back from teeny rhizomes and bits of root so you'll need to be persistent with it.   If you don't mind chemicals, a glyphosate based weedkiller will help but has to be applied on the leaves when in full growth and on a dry, sunny day as it takes 6 hours to be absorbed so it can go down to the roots and then two to three weeks to die.  You may need second and third applications.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It could be Arum italicum.  If it is, my guess is that the roots/tubers got broken up and spread around when the ground was being prepared for the grass seed (maybe a rotavator was used on it?), and each little bit is now producing a new plant.
    I don't know whether lawn weedkillers would kill it, and in any case they're not generally advised for such young grass so it might be better to bite the bullet and either dig it all out, then re-level and re-seed where necessary in spring.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You could use a spot on weed killer stick, so you don’t get it on the grass, should be applied in Spring when they are actively growing, but could try it now if there are enough leaves.
    Dont let it flower if you have children or dogs, the berries are poisonous. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    That is certainly a weed when found in my garden, especially on my lawn. In the old "poison them all" days I confess to having used glyphosate products. Now that I am "converted" I use my favourite tool, pictured below.

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I like it, especially the lovely red berries, but it can take over if you are not careful.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • dean_howell707dean_howell707 Posts: 4
    Thanks for the speedy replies everyone. I’ll try a weed killer and see what happens. It’s definitely actively growing now. It wasn’t there 2 weeks ago. What kind of weed killer will I need to try? What kind of chemical?
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    dean_howell707 said:
    Thanks for the speedy replies everyone. I’ll try a weed killer and see what happens. It’s definitely actively growing now. It wasn’t there 2 weeks ago. What kind of weed killer will I need to try? What kind of chemical?
    None. ;)
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    pull the top off and you won't see it again for a year


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Just pull off each leaf as you see them appear.   They feed the roots so eventually it will give up tho that may take a while.   Better than trying to spray or paint it on each leaf without harming your grass.

    See the previous answers for what and how if you still think chemicals are the best way forward.   Like Papi Jo and Nut, I just pull it up when it appears where I don't want it.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • dean_howell707dean_howell707 Posts: 4
    What I was able to cut the stems and leaves back below the surface? I know the main roots will still be there but if I keep doing it as soon as I see them would this eventually kill the plant because it won’t get any light?
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