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Identifying Common Garden Weeds

October 27, 2017 By Scott Harper 51 Comments

"Know your enemy" – Sun Tzu.

There are a lot of resources for methods to get rid of weeds but for the best results you must first know which weeds you are trying to control.

Unless you are a student of botany, typical weed identification guides are fairly botanical and it may be difficult to follow the description in order to identify weeds. You also don't have to visit a herbarium as we have a better solution for you.

In this comprehensive guide brought to you by Weedicide, we'll help you identify common garden weeds in the United Kingdom with ease.

Different weeds commonly found in the United Kingdom are differentiated based on their structure and then identified using the type, size, availability, and appearance. A few quick tips on how to cope with different types of weeds are also provided.

First, we categorize weeds according to their leaf shape and size, so it is easier to identify:

Grassy Weeds

Aquilegia

purple-aquilegia-garden-weed

Type: Self-seeding

Size: 15cm

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Blooms early before the actual plant starts to grow. Aquilegia is a colorful flower with quite strong roots that makes it difficult to pull out.


Yarrow

yarrow-weed

Type: Perennial

Size: Up to 1 meter

Found in: Commonest types of grass available in UK

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Similar to fern like structure. Can survive in the doughtiest conditions.


Doves-foot cranesbill

Doves-foot-cranesbill-UK-GARDEN-WEED-IDENTIFICATION

Type: Annual plant

Size: Up to 30 cm in height

Found in: Commonest in lawns in UK

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Pretty pink flowers – seen in late springs and summers. It grows on dry soil and prefer dry environment.


Cotinus Coggygria

flame-cotinus-min

Type: Deciduous shrub

Size: Up to 4.5 metres

Found across southern Europe

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Red/purple coloured flowers.


Germander Speedwell

Germander-Speedwell-weed

Type: Perennial weed

Size: 12 cm on average

Found in: Can survive in all kinds of weather conditions – most common in damper conditions.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Kidney-shaped flowers with prominent veins. Mostly seen between mid to late June.


Mouse-ear Chickweed

mouse-ear-chickweed-identification-uk

Type: Perennial weed

Size: 5-20cm

Found in: All UK gardens

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Small flowers with hairy dark green leaves. Visible white flowers bloom from late spring to autumn.

Tips: Since these Mouse-ear chickweeds can easily skip a mowing session, you can look for controlled and selective herbicides to get rid of these weeds.


Selfheal

selfheal-weed-garden

Type: Perennial weed – generally grown by creeping runners aka rhizomes.

Size: 30cm

Found in: Most lawns throughout the UK

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Evident purple ting– easy to find in closely mown areas. Blooms during June to October.


Broadleaf Weeds

Chickweed

chickweed-europe

Type: Cool-season annual plant, widespread, hardy annual

Size: Small

Found in: Native to Europe, found in moist, fertile garden soil

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Fine hairs on only one side of the stem in a single band.

Tips: Control chickweed by pulling with the help of an old table fork. Mulching over vacant garden space in winter will reduce chickweed problems.


Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet-Pimpernel-uk

Type: Annual growth pattern, season starts around June, extends until September

Size: small, branches easily and quickly

Found in: Lawns

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: This annual weed does not last for more than one year. Not common in properly maintained gardens. Sometimes misinterpreted as the Common Chickweed weed but the Pimpernel has bigger, more square-shaped stems. The name comes from big, intensely orange or red-colored flowers.

Tips: Ensure your garden is clean. The Scarlet weed finds it very difficult to thrive in well-maintained, periodically groomed lawns.


Ribwort Plantain

Ribwort-Plantain-Narrow-Leaf

Also known as Narrow Leaf Plantain

Type: One of UK’s commonest weeds. It can grow throughout the year. Noticeable because of its longer and thinner leaves.

Size: Medium with slightly longer leaves

Found in: Wet and dry areas, can resurface easily after removal, grows in most seasons

Recommended Weed Killer

Tips: This is one of the most tolerant weeds. Though easy to remove, comprehensive eradication is often difficult. Repeated hand weeding might work in some cases. Known to cause big patches that can easily destroy your garden’s beauty. Not easily eradicated by generalized herbicides. Better handled with selected herbicides that are known to kill the Ribwort.


Creeping Cinquefoil

Creeping-Cinquefoil-weed

Type: It is one of the commonest perennial weeds found in the UK lawns and turfs. It is specifically found in ill-maintained lawns or gardens with neglected services.

Size: 2 cm in diameter

Found in: UK lawns and turfs. Visible from June to October.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: The leaves of this kind of weeds are easy to identify with five different segments and toothed edges. The yellow flowers and fleshy petals also contribute in easy recognition.


Dandelion

dandelion-garden-weed-uk

Type: Perennial weed with a strong taproot, one of the most persistent types

Size: 50 cm or more (average)

Found in: Native to temperate areas of the globe

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: The leaves are simple and basal, forming a rosette above the central taproot. The flower heads are yellow to orange colored, and are open in the daytime but closed at night.

Tips: Brush scattered plants with a clove oil-based organic herbicide. Reduce reseeding by popping off the flowers before they develop seeds.


Cats Ear

cats-ear-weed-Hypochaeris-radicata

Type: Perennial weed. One of the strongest and persistent taproot types.

Size: Up to 8 inch leaves

Found in: Commonest weed types in lawns of UK.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Cats Ear looks like a stunted Dandelion. It is often found on drier soils.

Tips: Cats Ear is often ignored in rigorous mowing in a lawn. This is why, specific herbicides are sprinkled to reduce the growth of Cats Ear.


Creeping Buttercup

Creeping-Buttercup-weed

Type: Creeping Buttercup is most common perennial weed.

Size: Up to 50cm

Found in: Creeping Buttercup is one of the commonest yet low growing weed types in the lawns of UK. It blooms from mid spring to late summers.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Creeping Buttercup is best seen on wet heavy soils. This Creeping Buttercup particularly grows with its creeping stem and extends upwards on a regular basis. With fibrous roots, Creeping Buttercup is very difficult to remove permanently. It blooms yellow flowers with 6-9 petals each.

Tips: A continuous practice of years can be sufficient to weaken its root.


Birds-foot trefoil

Birds-foot-trefoil-weed

Type: Perennial weed. Birds-foot trefoil is one of the members of the Clover family.

Size: Knee-length

Found in: Birds-foot trefoil is widely found in lawns and gardens of UK. The Birds-foot trefoil can be found on any kind of soil; however the highest fertility is in acidic and drier soils.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Forms large patches and regulates through a deep root system. Birds-foot trefoil doesn’t need any particular pattern for growth – as can be grown by under-runners like stolons and rhizomes. It blooms bright yellow flowers – which easily resemble with Honeysuckle.


The Daisy

daisy-weed

Type: Daisy is one of the most commonly found perennial lawn and turf weeds in UK.

Found in: The Daisy can be seen in any soil condition – spread by short runners called Stolons.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: The Daisy is quite easy to recognize for its fleshy round leaves. The Daisy can easily grow very close to the ground – even in close mown lawns too. The flowers bloom from spring to early autumn – featuring a yellowish center for easy distinction.


Woody and Vining Weeds

Bindweed- available

bindweed-identification

Type: Perennial vine

Size: Large vines, roots spread up to 30 feet

Found in: Found throughout Europe, North America

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Green, arrow-shaped leaves and 1-inch-wide morning glory-type flowers that may be pale pink or white

Tips: Digging, cutting it back to reduce reseeding, or brushing it with a glyphosate herbicide


Morning Glory

morning-glory-weed-Convolvulaceae

Type: Popular, annual, flowering vine

Size: Small to mid-sized

Found in: Throughout the world

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Most morning glory flowers unravel into full bloom in the early morning. The flowers usually start to fade a few hours before the “petals” start showing visible curling

Tips: Easy to pull or cultivate with a sharp hoe when young or you can spray them with an organic herbicide containing clove oil.


Campanula

Campanula-weed-identification

Type: Perennial

Size: Up to 2 meters

Found in: Commonly found in UK lawns and gardens.

Recommended Weed Killer

Appearance: Campanula has really attractive flowers –blue in color.


Annual weeds vs. perennial weeds

Based on their nature, weeds are divided into annual weeds and perennial weeds.

Annual Weeds

Broadleaf winter annual weeds:

  • Seeds germinate from late summer through fall
  • Weeds over winter and continue to grow in early spring

Broadleaf summer annual weeds:

  • Seeds begin to germinate as soils begin to warm up

Grassy winter annual weeds:

  • Seeds germinate in late summer to early September

Grassy summer annual weeds:

  • Seed germination begins in early to mid-spring
  • Seeds continue to germinate in the summer

Perennial Weeds

Broadleaf Perennial Weeds:

  • Perennials are persistent from year to year
  • Range from weeds that are easy to eliminate, to some of the most difficult to control

Grassy perennial weeds/Sedges:

  • Some of the most difficult weeds to control in a lawn
  • Total lawn renovation is usually necessary

Other classifications include common weed, easy to control weeds, difficult weeds, and Trees and Stumps.

Small standing trees and roots are also unwanted and categorized as weeds. The way to cope with them is to use an axe to cut then down (from November to March).

Control Measures

Various control measures to get rid of weeds include pulling weeds, digging weeds, mulching, cultivating, reducing, reseeding, crowding plants, glyphosate herbicide, organic herbicides, corn gluten herbicides, and flamers etc. Choose one that suits the plant and your budget, and keep your garden free from weeds.

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Filed Under: Weed Control Tagged With: noad-inarticle

Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Bomb Review

January 18, 2017 By Scott Harper Leave a Comment

Controlling aquatic weeds is only possible with the correct tools. Evolution Aqua pure pond bomb is a tool that you need in your arsenal.

What is it?

pure-pond-bomb-reviewEvolution Aqua pure pond bomb is an award winning, quick acting distilled version of the original pure pond product. It promotes water clarity and pond health. It is made up of a special blend of good bacteria and enzymes which start working the moment the bomb enters the water. It begins to get rid of organic waste and breaks down nitrite and ammonia. As a result, your pond will be pure, clear, and healthy.

Pure Pond Bomb is an aid that assists the pond eco-system to balance itself while removing any interfering weeds such as blanket weed. It will help clean debris and dead plant matter from your filter. However, this is not a substitute for proper care and cleaning of your pond filter. You must put an active effort into managing the whole pond-ecosystem.

Key Features and Benefits

Here are some key features of the Evolution Pure Pond Bomb:

  • Millions of bacteria and enzymes inside one ball (bomb).
  • Bacteria and enzymes stay alive in gel ball ready for use.
  • Gel ball made from biodegradable polymer shrinks as bacteria and enzymes get to work.
  • One ball treats up to 20,000 litres.
  • Rapidly breaks down ammonia and nitrite.
  • Cleans up organic waste.
  • Perfect for emergency needs.
  • Performs well with all types of pond filter.
  • Safe for marine life.
  • Pet safe alternative for aquatic weeds.

Instructions for use

pond-blanket-weedPure Pond Bomb is ideal for usage in ornamental ponds, Koi ponds, and other bodies of water.

To use, remove the ball from the packaging and place it on top of the pond filter. Take everything in the container and put it into your pond filter or on in the pond.

Pure Pond Bomb works on ponds that are up to twenty-thousand litres in size. It is ideal for small to medium sized aquariums.

There is no risk of over-treatment because you can drop multiple balls in the water without causing any damage.

Next, the biological parts of your aquarium will begin to interact with the friendly bacteria and enzymes. It is most useful in temperatures above 13 degrees Celsius.

The best time to use this product is between spring and autumn. Use it for 3-4 times between spring and fall for optimal results.

A quick thing to note about this product is that it will not clear green waters.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is a natural product consisting of live friendly bacteria and enzymes; therefore the gel ball can differ in colour or size. None of these factors will impact the effectiveness of the product.

After use, the balls will dissolve slowly on its own.

Wash hands after using this product and store in a safe area out of the reach of children and pets.

If you found this article helpful, help us by sharing through your favorite social media site or leave a comment below.

Filed Under: Weed Control

The Best Weed Wiper

January 18, 2017 By Scott Harper Leave a Comment

What is a weed wiper?

weed-wiperWeed wiping is a strategy used in managing weeds on arable and grassland areas.

Weeds are a real pain for many farmers and growers, so the only option to control them in a scalable way is to resort to using an ATV quad bike mounted sprayer or a tractor.

New Zealand first introduced the concept of weed wiping during the 1970’s.  A weed wiper’s cost-friendly process racks up high savings compared to boom spraying.

Weeds that are taller than the desired crop can be targeted and removed with weed wiping. It is preferable if the weeds are at least 10 centimetres bigger than the vegetation you want. You will have to treat dense areas twice.

The best time to use this herbicide is when weeds are at the height of their growing cycle. Ensure perennial broad-leaved weeds are treated only when their leaf length has reached 9-14 cm.

How does it work?

When weeds grow taller with more leaves than the vegetation you want, the mechanism of weed wiping is quite interesting.  This growth pattern is ideal for rotary weed wipers. When treating an unwanted plant, droplets of the herbicide will fall onto the surface of the leaves. As a result, there is a lesser need for a weed killer or long-reach weeding tools and is a more practical outcome for eliminating pesky unwanted plants.

The lethal rolling mechanism of the weed wiper targets the weed aggressively while leaving the underlying plants unaffected.

used-manual-handheld-for-saleEach weed wiper comes equipped with a steel rotating drum that is protected by a synthetic carpet-like material. A hydraulic motor powers the wiper. The synthetic material stores the herbicide until it is ready to make contact with the weeds. A protected sprayer is positioned on the back of an ATV quad bike. The strong manufacturing of plastic protects the storage tank and prevents it from drifting spray.

As the rotating drums make their way through the weeds, they target each unwanted plant under its leaves and the stem. These areas are where the weed is most vulnerable. Furthermore, a weed wiper will only target weeds that are bigger than desired plants. In fact, small weeds that come into contact with the wiper’s carpet receive a small dosage of herbicide while large weeds receive a large dosage of herbicide. This levels the playing field and ensures that each weed is receiving the correct dosage.

What is the best weed wiper?

There are many weed wipers on the market, but there was one, a single product that stood out from the rest. It is the Quadmaxx Oblitorator 1800.

The Oblitorator 1800 is an environmentally friendly way to spread herbicides while leaving the underlying area in ideal condition. It works great on all types of weeds including the rush and dock genus.

oblitorator-1800-reviewThere is a swan neck quick detach drawbar that allows you to set the height anywhere from 100 milimetres to 500 millimetres off the ground. The swivel hitch reduces drag when wiping vegetation.

Many tractors cannot reach into wet areas without damaging the surface. However, the Oblitorator weed wiper comes equipped with flotation tyres that allow for easy reach into all spheres.

It also has a bubble jet nozzle that sprays directly onto the weeds. It includes a 55l 60psi tank with a hand tube for spot spraying. Moreover, the contra-rotating system made from natural wool is primarily responsible for getting the chemical herbicide directly under the weed’s leaves via a wick applicator.

Its heavy duty steel frame makes it apt for any job that requires torque and power.

Additionally, it utilizes a unique atomization technology makes sure the chemical attaches to the open fibre rollers without erupting.

If you decide upon using this method to control weeds, then you will need a spot/broadcast sprayer equipped with a latch onto the rear of your ATV, utility vehicle, or tractor.  Our recommendation is the Draper Expert sprayer.

Best farm ATV (All-terrain vehicle)

An ATV is a vehicle that moves based on low-pressure tyres. Weed wiping is a process that requires you to have access to a quad bike or similar tractor. We will guide you to the best farm ATV given that you don’t already have one.

Yamaha Utility Kodiak 700 EPS SE

Although Yamaha is a great manufacturer, many other websites will recommend the Yamaha Grizzly model instead of the Yamaha Kodiak 700.

best-farm-atvDespite being an excellent manufacturer of ATV’s, the Grizzly model’s target customer base are recreation and enthusiast riders. Nonetheless, the Kodiak 700 EPS SE is the best utility ATV for farmers, hunters, and trail riders.

The Kodiak 700 EPS SE is made with an on-command four-wheel drive system. They have a beautiful midnight blue metallic colour to them.

Its powerful 708cc DOHC 4-stroke high torque engine is capable of working during high-stress heavy duty jobs and can carry up to 140kg loads.

Final words

The practice of weed wiping is growing each year. As a more efficient, alternative, and proven method of weed control, it removes the need for boom spraying. Weed wipers only target the unwanted plants and do not affect the underlying grass. The contact widths of the weed wiper prevent drifting so that it is safe for wildlife habitats and species-rich protected areas.

Disclaimer: By reading this article you are acknowledging that this site publishes content for informational purposes and you should not consider it as professional advice. By using this website, you agree to adhere to the terms and service policy. Weedicide.co.uk is not responsible for the user’s obligation to be in alignment with any regulations or laws related to weed wiping.

If you found this article helpful, help us out by sharing via your favourite social media platform or leave a comment below.

Filed Under: Weed Control

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