Gardeners Tips

Dandelion – Weed or Plant of beauty?

Some definitions of a Weed

• A weed is a plant that you don’t want to have in the garden.
• Alternatively a weed is any plant in the wrong place.
• What is a weed to one is a prize plant to another. Many ornamental UK plants are a weed in their natural habitat.
• A weed is a plant that lives whilst other plants die.
• A weed invades, reproduces, survives and frustrates a gardener.

The question is, what kind of plants fall into the weed  category? As gardeners we sometimes fall into the trap of aiming for perfection and feel guilty about a dandelion growing in the herbaceous border. However, a dandelion has a certain natural beauty. Even its seed heads are beautiful. The problem is we have been conditioned to think that the dandelion is a ‘weed’ and therefore needs to be always removed. Sometimes it is a matter of changing our perspective. Rather than feel guilty about the dandelions in the grass, why not appreciate its simple beauty?

There are many ‘so called weeds’ which actually are quite attractive – eg Daisy’s, Poppy’s, Thistles

This does not mean we want dandelions everywhere, but, we can learn to be more tolerant of plants often considered as weeds

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So like everyone else you have weeds you want to ‘get rid of’ and here is how.

Physical Removal Methods

• Hand weeding is used when weeds grow amongst other plants. Take care to get all the root or bits may grow back.
• Hand forks work between other plants but for a larger area you need a proper fork. They are les effective for rhizomatous plant like couch grass and ground elder which tend to break and reestablish.
• Hoeing is ideal in vegetable beds. Draw a sharp blade just below the surface to cut weed roots. Most effective in dry periods when seedlings desiccate.
• Deep digging can bury the weeds. Pick out dandelion roots.
• Repeat strimming or cutting will weaken weeds but you need to be patient.
• Flame guns are useful on paths and hard surfaces but not always effective on deep rooted weeds.

Barrier Methods

• Black  plastic excluding light for 6-12 months will clear most weeds.
• Landscape fabric like Phormasil will do the job of plastic but allow water through.
• A thick layer of organic mulch will kill most weeds but may also introduce new seeds in the compost
• Inorganic mulch like aggregates needs to be 3 inches thick.
• Aesthetically such barrier methods may need a covering of gravel or mulch.

Chemical Killing

• Total weed killers remain active in the soil often for 6 months. They bare effective for large areas and on hard surfaces.
• Contact chemicals are best for annual weeds. There are some ‘organic’ versions based on natural acid based products.
• Systemic weed killers are absorbed in to the plant which then dies.
• Glyphosphate is non selective and is inactive after contact with the soil.
• Some stubborn or woody weeds need to have exposed surfaces to take up the poison
• Special chemical mixes have been formulated for lawns

Good weeding for next year – a year of seeds is 5 years of weeds.

Common Ragwort  Senecio jacobaea or Jacobea vulgaris is a specified weed as it can kill animals that graze on it. Even when  cut with hay and wilted it is toxic to horses and cattle. It is not a significant problem in gardens and some claim its toxicity with horses is overstated

Ragwort appreciation society wants to look at the myths and facts

Senecio jacobaea is part of our biodiversity and provides nectar and pollen for many insects. Cinnabar moths can be an effective biocontrol limiting growth and seed production. Eggs are laid in May -June and catterpillars feed on leaves in July- August. Thay can strip a plant down to its stalks

Ulex europaeus better known as Gorse, furze, furse or whin is a very prickly shrub of the pea family. Western gorse Ulex gallii is frequent in the western side of Britain and is relatively low growing yet robust. Dwarf gorse or Ulex minor is a low growing, sprawling shrub.

Gorse Facts

• Gorse grows wild on heath and scrub land in the UK.
• Gorse is closely related to the brooms with green stems, very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions.
• Common gorse flowers yellow in late autumn and through the winter. This picture was taken at the beginning of February 2011.
• Gorse can be used as a hedge but beware the spines are really spikey.
• Gorse is a valuable plant for wildlife, providing dense thorny cover ideal for protecting bird nests. The flowers and dead wood are eaten by insects.
• Gorse grows in soils that are light, free draining and free from severe frosts.

Clearing Gorse

• Due to it’s spiny nature, Gorse forms thickets that are impenetrable to animals and humans.
• Gorse produces large numbers of seeds in seed pods which explode open increasing the area of seed distribution.
• Seed may last for up to 100 years in the soil before conditions become suitable for germination.
• For controlling small plants hand weeding is an effective method.
• Other labour intensive methods of gorse control for larger plants include digging, slashing and cutting.
• Burning can also be done, but stimulate more plant growth.
• Herbicide treatment after spring flowering is a good time to carry out a gorse control programme.
• Cutting and stump ‘pasting’ (treating the stump with chemicals) is also effective.

Read about other Prickly Shrubs

A sea of Dandelions

It is the time of the year where dandelions are popping up everywhere. This shot of Dandelion flowers is quite attractive (taken by Oxford Castle Mound). But, in the border and lawn dandelion is classed as a weed. In particular dandelion leaves will smoother the grass and make it weaker in the long term.

It is a tough weed, but definitely beatable.

For a small number of dandelions, I do recommend digging out the tap root with a trowel or custom weed trowel. The secret is to try and get as much of the root as possible. In practise, it is hard to get everything. But, it means that when it regenerates from a small bit of root, it will much easier to finish off with weed killer.

It is best to dig dandelions when the soil is dry as this makes it easier to shake off the soil surrounding the dandelion root.

If you don’t have time or energy to dig up dandelions, you can resort to a weedkiller which is designed for broad leaf weeds. You can either spray or paint it directly on to the leaves. It may need 2 to 3 treatments to finally kill them off.

Prevent Seeding.

Now is a good time to act, as if you let them go to seed, it will be just storing up more work for the future.

Dandelions aren’t the end of the world. This makes quite an attractive picture.

Eat Dandelions.

Another option is just enjoy the flowers and pick the leaves and flowers for salads. If you are really keen, you could roast the dandelion root to make a healthy organic dandelion coffee.

Related
Weedkiller for Dandelion

Roundup Weedkiller concentrate. Good for large areas which need treating at Amazon.

Related Posts

• Controlling invasive weeds
• Definition of a weed

Unfortunately, my lawn has a lot of moss (if you look closely) this is because I’ve gone for the ‘wildlife effect’ i.e. too lazy to mow the lawn.

Moss is a signal of a lawn with problems. To control the moss, it is important to tackle the underlying causes of moss.

Causes of Moss

• Damp, poorly drained soil.
• Dry sandy soils which are infertile.
• Acid soil
• Too Much Shade. Moss is almost inevitable in heavily shaded areas. You could cut back the trees, but, it can be a shame to remove a shady spot on the lawn. Don’t forget moss is not the end of the world.
• Infrequent Mowing
• Cutting too low

Basically, moss thrives where grass struggles to grow. The best way to prevent excess moss growth is to provide conditions for strong grass growth. This involves.

• Well drained soil
• Watering in dry spells
• Regular grass feed and use of weedkiller.

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One weed that some gardeners wish they were able to grow – well then can but not always legally.

A form of grass that if you water it with neat whiskey it comes up half cut!

Cannabis the easier name to spell than Marijuana is typically considered to be one of two species Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa.

Skunk and not Skunk cabbage but with an aroma to be sniffed at.

Humidity, temperature and ventilation  are all vital to getting your grow right.

Hash is concentrated resin produced from the flowers of the female cannabis plant or hash is the mess I make of sowing very small seeds.

Marijuana Grower’s Handbook is a perennial favourite on marijuana cultivation. Ed Rosenthal’s popular marijuana advice column and helpful web links are included as Rosenthal delivers all the basics needed for a novice plus advanced research useful to the more experienced grower. Buy from Amazon

Get a Joint to easy your joints or call it a spliff, bone, nail or, when smoked down to the end, a roach.

Mare’stail or Horsetail is a common garden weed that flourishes on damp soil. Even the RHS is prone to Horsetail as the picture taken at Harlow Carr Gardens demonstrates. I look forward to seeing how they cope!

Why it is a Problem

• The plant reproduces by spores that are readily wind dispersed but most problems come from the rhizomes.
• Rhizomes are extensive both horizontally and vertically and may reach over 5 feet deep depending on substrate.
• Rhizomes break into small parts and reproduce quickly.
• Tubers are then produced at the nodes of the rhizomes.
• You can’t dig it out, although you may weaken the plants if you remove as much root as you can then hoe when you get above 1″ shoots.

Control and Eradication

• Glyphosate weed killer will have an effect and eventually kill the plant. Apply at least 3-4 times. Crush the leaves to create an entry point. …

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