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Help with weeding

stuart and Codystuart and Cody Posts: 76
in Tools and techniques
Hi guys it’s been a while since our last post but cody and I have a new allotment and it has been left neglected so I have the arduous task of weeding it.

currently I am turning the whole plot over to remove tap roots and surface weeds, however as I go I am trying to get as much debris out as I can most of if not all tap roots (mainly couch grass).

there are a lot of very small seedling weeds that have small cluster roots I try to get it all out but I do struggle to get all the bits.

I have posted a couple of pics below to give examples but I want to ask the very small weeds (see pic) can these be dug in and will they die over winter?

the small cluster roots will they die over winter if left in? 

Many thanks for any advice I get.  

Stuart and cody 



Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If they don't die off, when they grow back you can hoe them off on a dry day. You'll most likely get a new crop of seedlings in the spring in any case, from seeds that are dormant in the soil waiting for enough warmth to germinate. Weeding is a job that doesn't stay done, like dusting in the house  :/ .  You're doing the right thing by concentrating on the deep perennial weed roots for now.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    The plant in the red circle is a willow herb. It won't die off, it will be raring to go come spring! The plump white roots could be several things but as a general rule of thumb I find they are usually nuisance plants with a tendency to run, so remove as many as you can.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I agree that the top one is a willow herb, very good at seeding themselves! I'd get out all you can then cover it with cardboard weighted down or covered with compost, otherwise weed suppressant fabric, the woven sort, and leave it until you are ready to plant.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • parkgatemanparkgateman Posts: 50
    The top one -- willow herb is very  very very very hard to get rid of . 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I find individual willowherbs are easy enough to pull out or hoe off, it's just that where there's one, there'll be loads more seeds in the soil waiting for the right conditions to germinate. Covering the soil will keep them at bay until you uncover it for planting/sowing but then they'll be away, so it might be better to let them germinate when they want to and be ready with the hoe to slice them off before they flower and set more seed. Hoeing is generally enough to kill them if you catch them small. Repeat, repeat and repeat.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • stuart and Codystuart and Cody Posts: 76
    Thank you all for your advice and comments, plenty of weeds left to pull but getting there..! 
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    If you can remove them, so much the better but, with at least a couple of months to go before the main spring effort, covering with plastic will help.
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