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Weed help - newbie gardener!

Rem1208Rem1208 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi! We moved in to our first house in winter and have only just started to work on the garden. Neither of us have any experience of gardening and need help! We have come across what we initially thought was Japanese Knotweed bt have since had confirmation that its not but we are still none the wiser! It is tall with thick reddish stalks with an appearance similar to asparagus. The leaves have a reddish tint but are mainly green. It is growing over an area of about 1m squared and seems to have sizeable roots

Anyone able to help? Thanks
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Posts

  • chris 172chris 172 Posts: 403

    HI Rem1208

    Have you any pictures you can share with the forum

    cheers as this may help readers assist you

  • Rem1208Rem1208 Posts: 6
    I do, but have no idea how to include them in my post!
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    click on the little tree icon and follow instructions to post a photo Rem. 

    That'll get some answers I'm sure.

    Welcome to the forum.

    Devon.
  • Rem1208Rem1208 Posts: 6
    they aren't the best pictures - but this is what we have...
    image

     

    image

     

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410

    Looks like some sort of euphorbia to me - but I have never seen it in a profusion like that.  If I am right (one of the experts willbe along in a minuteimage) then be careful - the sap is nasty and can burn your skin/eyes, so wear gloves, and a pair of safety specs.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Yes, one of the euphorbiasimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Rem1208Rem1208 Posts: 6
    Great! Thank you!

    I have googled and think its Euphorbia griffithii

    I have read a little this evening and it is occasionally described as a 'thug'

    Should I leave it be or dig it up?
  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508
    It's your garden. If you don't like it, remove it image plus, if it's invasive it will make your life harder in the long run. But, if you like it and are happy to dig it back to manageable proportions, go for it!
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    It is a good plant if you keep a wary eye on itimage The flowers in spring are orangey red (we used to call it the tomato soup plant when my daughter was little) and we had it combined with tulips like Ballerina and Princess Irene and yellow Doronicums fo a lovely longlasting display. In summer it fades to green, and is quite tall, but it is good at the back of a border as it sculpts itself beautifully into a freeform  'cloud' hedge. Could also be used for a summer partition low hedge that doesn't need trimming but always looks neat. In autumn it picks up the orange tones again to go with the season. Mine was well behaved for several years before it began to run and I also find the ocasional seedling, but it isn't particularly hard to dig out the runners and keep it in check and I think it is worth it for the long contribution it makes.

    image

     

  • Rem1208Rem1208 Posts: 6

    Thank you!! Will give it this year and see how it goes and make a decision next year!

    next question....does anyone know how to get a husband (who wanted a garden) enthusiastic about gardening? image

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