UK gardening - Help with weed infection please

Author

Help with weed infection please

Broadback

2007-10-23, 9:25 am

I have a number of beds in a "wild" lawn, I wish to keep the lawn this
way as I love to see what wild plants grow. However my beds are
becoming infested with a weed that spreads through its root system. I
suspect that when I clean the beds any little bit of root grows and
develops into plants, anyway, if not, it certainly spreads in from the
surrounding grassed area. Firstly can someone identify it please from
these photos? I have attempted but failed. Hangs head in shame.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e...dback/Weed1.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e...dback/Weed2.jpg

Secondly any suggestions for control? The only thing I can think of is
to edge the beds with a gravel path keeping that free from weeds with
weed killer, however maybe the roots would travel underneath the path.

Emrys Davies

2007-10-23, 1:25 pm

Emrys Davies

2007-10-23, 5:25 pm

"Broadback" <wen@towill.plus.com> wrote in message
news:5o68kjFl7de1U1@mid.individual.net...
> I have a number of beds in a "wild" lawn, I wish to keep the lawn this
> way as I love to see what wild plants grow. However my beds are
> becoming infested with a weed that spreads through its root system. I
> suspect that when I clean the beds any little bit of root grows and
> develops into plants, anyway, if not, it certainly spreads in from the
> surrounding grassed area. Firstly can someone identify it please from
> these photos? I have attempted but failed. Hangs head in shame.
>
> http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e...dback/Weed1.jpg
> http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e...dback/Weed2.jpg
>
> Secondly any suggestions for control? The only thing I can think of is
> to edge the beds with a gravel path keeping that free from weeds with
> weed killer, however maybe the roots would travel underneath the path.

Sheep's Sorrel can be quite a nuisence but its close relative, the
Common Sorrel, is not so frequent in turf. They will only survive in
acid conditions, but liming is not the answer. Use a weedkiller and
feed regularly to control them.

I think that it is Sheep's Sorrel that you have got, but also compare it
with Common Sorrel. The leaf of Sheep's Sorrel is arrow-shaped with
distinct spreading lobes at the base. Usually turns red in the summer.

The leaf of Common Sorrel is oblong with ears at the base. The lobes
point downwards. Turns red in late summer.

Any product containing MCPA or 2, 4-D (If still available) will see them
off. Best to apply in late spring and repeat the treatment a month
later.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.

CWatters

2007-10-23, 5:25 pm

Sacha

2007-10-23, 5:25 pm

On 23/10/07 19:55, in article 471e434b_1@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com,
"Emrys Davies" <me@privacy.net> wrote:

> "Broadback" <wen@towill.plus.com> wrote in message
> news:5o68kjFl7de1U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> Sheep's Sorrel can be quite a nuisence but its close relative, the
> Common Sorrel, is not so frequent in turf. They will only survive in
> acid conditions, but liming is not the answer. Use a weedkiller and
> feed regularly to control them.
>

I haven't tried this myself but Sheep's Sorrel is high in Vit C and is used
in salads. If you keep picking the leaves to add to salads, maybe that will
deal with the plant nature's way!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

Broadback

2007-10-24, 9:25 am

CWatters wrote:
> "Broadback" <wen@towill.plus.com> wrote in message
> news:5o68kjFl7de1U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> A while back someone here mentioned a weedkiller for lawns called Verdun. I
> gave it a try on a creeping weed in our lawn and was very impressed. It
> cleared the lot leaving the lawn unharmed.
>
>
Thanks for you help everyone. As a youngster we used to chew on, I
think, what you call Sheep's Sorrel Sacha, but I do not remember it
looking like this, it had a long stalk, sour to chew, with a flower head
on the end. Maybe that is because they don't get the chance to develop
that far in my beds!

Steve Wolstenholme

2007-10-24, 9:25 am

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:34:31 +0100, Sacha
<sacha@gardenweeds506.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

>I haven't tried this myself but Sheep's Sorrel is high in Vit C and is used
>in salads. If you keep picking the leaves to add to salads, maybe that will
>deal with the plant nature's way!

It adds a very pleasant lemon flavour but too much will ruin a salad.
I use to grow it in a pot just for salads. Apparently it is slightly
toxic but I'm still alive!

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd
http://www.easynn.com
http://www.tropheus.demon.co.uk

helene@urbed.coop

2007-10-24, 9:25 am

On 24 Oct, 10:05, Steve Wolstenholme <st...@tropheus.demon.co.uk>
wrote:
> It adds a very pleasant lemon flavour but too much will ruin a salad.
> I use to grow it in a pot just for salads. Apparently it is slightly
> toxic but I'm still alive!

We call it oseille, it's a rumex acetosa and also people call it sour
dock or spinash dock (not to be confused with dock nor wood sorrel
from the oxalidaceae family....). So many name for a fantastic little
plant. I've always cultivated sorrel, french one which I think is a
Belleville and is very lemony, and we love it, especially sorrel and
potato soup. It doesn't deserve chemicals at all. Nothing does
really. Broadback, you should try to enjoy it, make a little corner
for it and transplant some and take out the fugitif ones. If you want
a good south west of france recipe, you know where to find me ;o)

Broadback

2007-10-24, 9:25 am

Broadback wrote:
> CWatters wrote:
> Thanks for you help everyone. As a youngster we used to chew on, I
> think, what you call Sheep's Sorrel Sacha, but I do not remember it
> looking like this, it had a long stalk, sour to chew, with a flower head
> on the end. Maybe that is because they don't get the chance to develop
> that far in my beds!
Not certain but I am pretty sure that is is Sheep's Sorrel, I have had a
chew and it is not acidic, also it has those ears at the bottom of a
leaf the shape of a bishop's hat (forgotten the proper term). Off now to
casualty to get my stomach pumped! :-)

Sacha

2007-10-24, 9:25 am

On 24/10/07 10:05, in article fd2uh3pcc8q9libbb1uoutljeb84do313m@4ax.com,
"Steve Wolstenholme" <steve@tropheus.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:34:31 +0100, Sacha
> <sacha@gardenweeds506.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> It adds a very pleasant lemon flavour but too much will ruin a salad.
> I use to grow it in a pot just for salads. Apparently it is slightly
> toxic but I'm still alive!
>
> Steve

My mother outlaw used to make the most wonderful sorrel soup. Don't know if
it's the same plant because I have a faint memory of rather larger leaves?
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

Sacha

2007-10-24, 9:25 am

On 24/10/07 11:25, in article 5o8kudFlla2mU1@mid.individual.net, "Broadback"
<wen@towill.plus.com> wrote:

<snip>
> Not certain but I am pretty sure that is is Sheep's Sorrel, I have had a
> chew and it is not acidic, also it has those ears at the bottom of a
> leaf the shape of a bishop's hat (forgotten the proper term). Off now to
> casualty to get my stomach pumped! :-)

I was quite expecting it to be Something sagittifolia!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

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