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Big big weeds - help

aaronsagaraaronsagar Posts: 2
in Problem solving

imageHey there! As you can see (you may have to tilt your head as iPhone uploaded it in a strange way), I have some massive weeds. How do I get rid? Do I need to pop to HSS hire and get a chainsaw? Help!Aaron

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,143

    No need to panic!  Looks like a good crop of Green Alkanet with some Herb Robert (a wild geranium with smelly foliage) and some other odds and ends.  Get yourself some sturdy gardening gloves and a long sleeved jacket (alkanet can be a bit bristly) and pull them out then dig up the roots.  

    Then, if you get more than a little regrowth I'd spray it with a weedkiller containing glyphosate - leave it for a fortnight to go brown (this indicates that the roots are dead) and pull it up again and dig over.  You should then have a border ready to add some organic matter and get on with planting.

    Enjoy image


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





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    That looks beautiful. Much better than bedding plants etc



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • aaronsagaraaronsagar Posts: 2

    Thanks so much. So helpful.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,143

    The bees love alkanet - and it is pretty for a couple of weeks, but if you don't have a large garden and you want something a little more formal, it quickly becomes a thug - and we don't want to put Aaron off gardening do we? image


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





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    Alternatively, if you don't have the time/inclination, just give them a blast with glyphosphate (Roundup etc). As they are well established, you'll probably need to do it twice leaving 10-14 days between.
    Glyphosphate does no harm to the soil. It is quickly broken down.

    As Dove says, the 'right' way is to try and dig it all up, but alkanet has a long tap root and if you miss a bit it will re-grow.
    If you re plant with some nice flowering plants the bees can continue their feast.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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