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invasive plant in my new garden
Janet86
Posts: 3
Hi folks I have an invasive plant in my new garden
I think it is short stem willow herb it has runners and these small green florets grow into tall woody stems, when i cut them down they smell disgusting, first have I identified it correctly? second how can I get rid without digging up all of the garden? all suggestions gratefully received
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Janet it is willow herb. It comes out easily enough with a hand fork. Unfortunately it seeds prolifically so it will take several years to get rid of it. Now is a good time to get them out as most have already germinated. No easy solution I'm afraid.
Agree willow herb. Not sure which one, I don't remember any smell from any of mine.
Epilobium hirsutum is a b...
...r to get out of heavy soil Dave
In the sticks near Peterborough
I don't remember any of it having a smell either nut.
I'm just allergic to it - it gets yanked out as soon as I see it. It's my Nemesis
It spreads by seed as well as underground Janet. Get stuck in and don't let it seed whatever you do! It does pull out relatively easily - the seeded stuff especially.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
if it's the one with the underground runners, no hoe, that breaks it up to make more plants. dig it up. Otherwise the hoe will do fine
In the sticks near Peterborough
Is that early growth what Rosebay Willowherb would look like too? Found some in my garden too and I don't want Rosebay Willowberb flourishing.
It's not Rosebay Willowherb, but one of the smaller willowherbs by the look of it. Although they don't smell much of anything except green leaves, so it might be something else. If isn't something you planted or sowed, dig it up while it is still small and easy to pull!
I have a bad habit of leaving my own weeds too long. I do find out what they grow up into, but it makes twice the work evicting them.
Agree, definitely not Rosebay WH
It's so like WH to look at but I have atleast4, maybe 5 species and have never picked up a smell.
In the sticks near Peterborough
No I realise it's not Rosebay Willowherb. I've now realised it's more likely short-fruited willowherb (Epilobium obscurum). I'll definitely remove them from my garden.