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Mystery plants / weeds that I can't kill with weedkiller

dominomandominoman Posts: 150
in Plants

A couple of weekends ago I resorted to spraying the borders as we have masses of growth and I want to be able to put in some new plants and flowers.

I used glyphosate that I got on Amazon, and just to be sure, I mixed it at double strength.

I'd have preferred not to use weedkiller - but the garden was so overgrown that I decided to blitz this part and start again.

Most of what I sprayed has died back, but these few are refusing to die!

Does anyone know what plants these are?  Many thanks for any help.  I'm new to gardening and really appreciate some tips.  The forums are a godsend for me.

 

1.  The first plant.  What is it?

image

 2.  And the second...  This one has died back a little, but is still not dead.  I wonder what it is?

image

 

Bear in mind, this is two full weeks after spraying it.  Here’s another photo of it.

image

 3.  And the last one below.  A friend of mine thinks this is ground elder.  I hope not as from what I have read in these forums ground elder is a real pain to get rid of.  This weed is all across the borders near the house and underneath the hedge.

image

 Another photo of that:

image

 Any help identifying these, and also any tips on how to get rid of them, much appreciated.  Should I just spray again with glyphosate?

Posts

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    Can't see pic's on my phone comes up with error, they could be perennial seeds with long tap roots, you might have to dig them up make sure you get all the root out or they will grow back.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    There are lots of persistent weeds that don't die off after the first spray - thistles, couch grass, bindweed etc.   With some of them the tops will die off but some roots will survive and regrow.

    You just have to respray and remaining green bits and then keep an eye out for new shoots coming back so think in terms of 3 sprays over 6 weeks and another month to wait for sneaky regrowth before you can consider the soil cleaned and ready for planting.

     

    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
  • Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663

    Hi

    First one looks like a Hypericum , possibly Rose of Sharon. Second one is Symphoricarpus, the snowberry, you will need to use SBK to kill that and still probably have to dig the roots up. Last one could be Ground Elder but I am not sure.

  • Pam17Pam17 Posts: 4

    I saw Monty use a flame gun and it worked very well so the other way could be, if not close to a fence, is set a fire and burn it there where it grows, my fire pit is moved around the court yard so the heat from it burns the weeds that grow between the flags, could work! the top picture looks something like a weed that grows round my delphinium so I have to did it out for fear of killing my plants, hope it helps 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    A flame gun works well on annual weeds because it burns off the top and there's nothing much to regrow. Just a minor setback for the above collection.

    Double strength. That could be part of the problem. These things are best used as prescribed. A quick death of top growth is not what you want, you want slow and total death of the root as well. But there is no instant fix for weeds of this quality. 'dt cut all the tops of, wait for good strong regrowth, not a few little scraps, and respray according to instructions



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138
    nutcutlet wrote (see)

    ... Double strength. That could be part of the problem. These things are best used as prescribed. A quick death of top growth is not what you want, you want slow and total death of the root as well. But there is no instant fix for weeds of this quality. 'dt cut all the tops of, wait for good strong regrowth, not a few little scraps, and respray according to instructions

    Totally agree - cut it back, spray the regrowth according to directions on the pack, then wait until it's all brown and dead before digging.

    image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    Didn't spot the double strength bit but agree totally.  Follow the instructions for best results but add a couple of drops (not a huge squirt) or washing up liquid as this helps the product adhere better to shiny foliage.   Agree also about waiting for decent regrowth before repsraying as this transports more of the active ingredient down to the roots to kill them.

    I would love a flame gun for the annual weeds in our cobbles but haven't found one here so it's either spraying or hand weeding and that's not an option given the surface area involved.

    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
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I have an ancient flame gun, it terrifies me. I don't use it any more. The only place it would be useful is on the drive and I live in a wooden houseimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • dominomandominoman Posts: 150

    Thanks very much for the answers and advice on these weeds.  Good to know about the concentration.  I should have followed the instructions but just assumed that stronger would be better!  I'll try again in a week or so.

    Fire isn't really an option in this part of the garden as it is very near large trees and a fence.  But I do have some SBK so will try that on the Symphoricarpus.  

    Does anyone know if SBK goes off?  I found an old one in the cellar, probably 10 years old or so.  

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