Lawn Weed

[will]

Last September I moved into a house with a barren desert for a where the lawn should have been.

Subsequently I have become obsessed and although it is now a lush green affair, the weed pictured below has appeared in abundance.

I don't mind the daisies and things, but these are just plain ugly. Can anyone recommend an effective weedkiller that will not destroy the lawn?

Will

[rbrooks]

Originally posted by will
Last September I moved into a house with a barren desert for a where the lawn should have been.

Subsequently I have become obsessed and although it is now a lush green affair, the weed pictured below has appeared in abundance.

I don't mind the daisies and things, but these are just plain ugly. Can anyone recommend an effective weedkiller that will not destroy the lawn?

Will

Hi Will,

From your photo it looks like plantain to me! If left a miniature central stalk comes out that looks like Red Hot Poker although cream in colour.

If it's not too bad or you are patient then you could use a small paintbrush and use a weedkiller that you paint on the leaves.

HTH?

Richard.

[will]

Thanks, I'll do that. I am patient enough having become obsessed with my postage stamp over the past six months.

Can you recommend a particular product from your own experience?

[rbrooks]

Originally posted by will
Thanks, I'll do that. I am patient enough having become obsessed with my postage stamp over the past six months.

Can you recommend a particular product from your own experience?

Sorry for the delay but as I was in my shed I looked at a few things I had.

The one that sticks in my mind because it becomes waterproof in ten minutes is Weedol but SBKs Vitax brushweed killer and most other types that kill the more woody weeds, would do although plantain is not that hard to get rid of compared to some other nasties out there.

All you need to do is to get a small paintbrush and make up a small mix (not for the gallons amounts as recommended) and paint it on.

HTH!

Richard.

[jen.myrtle]

I'll be home from holiday before I' officially back at work so I'll pick up some weedol and take it home with me!

Will

[rbrooks]

Originally posted by jen.myrtle
I'll be home from holiday before I' officially back at work so I'll pick up some weedol and take it home with me!

Will

Better use it before the end of this year as I've just read an anouncement in our local free newspaper that the EC has now announced the banning of all chemical weedkillers and want to push more nature friendly products. Neil, are you reading this ? ;-)

This is kind of predictable after creosote was removed from sale.

Richard.

[Flower]

Hi Will,
I think that the plant in the photo is a Plantago.
They have quite short roots and you can easily dig them out with a pointed trowel.
Get hold of the leaves and loosen under the plant and they should pop out quite easily. Any leftover roots will not regerminate.

It's a good idea to get rid of them from your lawn as the leaves prevent the grass growing.

For a wildflower garden they are very attractive. They have tall slender stems with a 'seedhead' which blow about in the wind and look nice in low afternoon sunlight.
Now everyones idea of an attractive plant though I must admit.
Not much eats them either.

[will]

That's sounds like a nice way for a lawn obsessive to pass the time with a bottle of wine handy, it would also be free and more crawling baby compatibale than weedkiller.

Will