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Weed control

GH36LONGH36LON Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Dear colleagues

Can anybody please identify the weeds as captured in the attached images? I was told by a groundsman that it was pearlwort but I don't think that's right. I used mecoprop (on his advice) but apart from making it look brown, it's back with a vengeance!

Thank you for any assistance

Gerard

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Looks like star moss to me.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Moss, except as a desired feature in shady woodland gardens, is usually a symptom of poor growing conditions whether in a flower bed, shrubbery or lawn.

    Instead of blitzing it with chemicals to kill it you need to improve the growing environment to favour the plants you want and this involves improving things like drainage, aeration, PH, fertility.    Have a read of this - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=422    
    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
  • GH36LONGH36LON Posts: 10
    Thank you Wild Edges.

    And Obelixx; yes I agree but I have the perfect storm for moss: poor drainage due to clay soil, trees all round (some TPO so they have to stay) and lots of rain and shade. I have scarified every year, aerated and so on. But yes, I will get the soil pH tested too. Thank you for your help
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Keep aerating and gradually mulch the area with thin layers of compost to raise the level and thus improve drainage.   You could also give up trying to grow grass and dig the wettest area over, incorporating lots of organic matter and fine grit.  Clay soils are very fertile so, once drainage is improved, you can grow a wide range of plants.
    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
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    We have the same problem. Clay soil base, a couple of trees with TPOs and I am now experimenting with moss.
    I have deliberately kept some bushes and shrubs to keep the shade deeper.

    I struggled for years trying to keep a lawn after a lot of initial careful preparation and ongoing care.

    Watering copiously these days is frowned upon, feeding and using chemical moss removers really a waste of money and I don't really like to use a lot of chemicals. Constant rain drips from tree branches makes keeping a smooth finish nigh on impossible difficult. Acorns in bumper crop years, need clearing before mowing.
    Our front gardens are open plan so I have to be considerate of other residents cars getting damaged by flying acorns.

    Moss needs a lot less watering care unlike a lawn and although the colour may not be deep green lawn, it can look neat and tidy, with just a brush over. Raking is more difficult and has to be gentle.

    Only problem is the birdies pinching it for nests :D
    I am only just getting into and grasping the moss alternative so can't give any proper advice.

    Do you know if your pictured plant has little white flowers at some point? I think Pearlworts do.
  • GH36LONGH36LON Posts: 10
    No, Rubytoo, never any white flowers, just what looks like little 'conifers' and I agree with other contributors that it is star moss
    Gerard
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I have grass, it could never be mistaken for lawn, but I do think a REALLY good lawn is a thing of beauty and it shows off border plants perfectly.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    So does a well cared for green area.  The thing about a varied or weedy lawn is it tends to stay greener in drought and is far more interesting to wildlife providing food to a wide range from micro-organisms to insects and birds.
    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
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