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Weed problem: Alkanet
Rottijim
Posts: 7
This is my first post. It may look quite attractive but this is a thuggish weed! I believe it's called Alkanet but may be wrong. When you pull it up there is a woody root which tears; the weed regrows apace. It spreads alarmingly in our clay soil. I'd rather not use Roundup. Any thoughts?
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I've successfully dug most up, still getting few off shots but a year later definitely less. I'm lucky with loamy soil though.
To be honest rottijim roundup is very effective with alkanet, one application and its gone especially now. It won't totally disappear, the seeds hang around for ages and germinate throughout the year. But of its a serious issue and it is in one garden I look after its the best way.
Thank you Dave and ice. I'm covering one section as a trial. But I fear other methods will be needed. Is my identification correct?
I think so. Your leaves are slightly more pointy than mine but if it's sort of spiky and abrasive then it's geen alkanet.
It was a terrible problem here, but I dug loads up early last year and it's significantly reduced. I do everything I can to get the whole root (and mine were very established due to neglect so the roots were HUGE). If a bit snaps off I can be sure that I'll get a new crop a few weeks later, but these later growths have been much easier to remove (partly because all the digging I did in the first place loosened what had been pretty solid soil) and even if small they often bring a much bigger root that I missed up with them.
If I see a seedling - and there are plenty, still - I whip it out straight away, again ensuring nothing is left. It is making a big difference - I'm confident I'm winning. I have used glyphosate on bits that have come up between paving because of not being able to get to the roots, but tbh the digging seems to be the most effective.
Thanks LG the L. Your experience matches my own. It gets even into tiny paved areas. I've got an awful lot of it but digging looks like the way forward.
My entire garden was covered in it. Take heart - each complete root you extract will make a difference, so enjoy that moment!
This was mine this time last year. Lots of digging and this bed is mainly clear. It was about 1m by 3m. Everything was either burnt or left in a green bin. New growth is esier. Now battling bits been paving. Probably will weed killer that.
The new bits found which must be last year seedlings are sooo much easier to remove.
Recommend a fork and gloves m I'll allergic to the spines on the leaves
I'll try to do a after shot tomorrow if not raining. Suspect it'll be a few years before really beat it especially as couldn't get at some bits. I find it very satisfying to get huge roots though. My better half thinks I'm mad but his gardening to chopping big bits back or lawn mowing
I agree about the gloves - those leaves are nasty. They make my sensitive skinned daughter come out in a rash if she brushes past them. I'm a bit tougher but it's still unpleasant.