Good year for goosegrass, isn't it...

[Mr Growser...]

Yup, sure is!

It's climbing everywhere this year, and we have to keep dragging great lumps of it out of the hedges and shrubs!

Any ideas why?

[Florence Fennel]

No idea why but you're spot on Mr! I've pulled out masses.

[happyhumph]

No clue, but I have loads as well..

[Baldy]

Yes yes yes, but have you eaten any Growser? I seem to recall you like your peas:
Wild edible food foraging goose grass, identify & cook Cleavers
"Galium aparine is a great wild edible loved by the forager and bushcraft fanatic. The leaves and stems of the plant can be cooked as a leaf vegetable if gathered before the fruits appear. However, the numerous small hooks which cover the plant make it less palatable if eaten raw- so whilst it tastes sweet and akin to peas it’s best cooked as this melts the small hairs ."

The "Cleavers & Aubergine Bake" on that page sounds DIVINE

[Snoop Puss]

Odd, because we usually have loads, and I haven't seen any this year (so far). Thistles, mind, we have aplenty.

Edited to add: Great link there, Baldy. I'll have to remember to look out for goose grass while I'm foraging for aubergines.

[Containergardener]

Yep loads here too

[DannyK]

It's a sneaky weed. By the time it pops its head out of a shrub the damage is done and its seeded.

The main problem is ingress from next door's neglected garden.

I was finding seedlings throughout the winter.

[Jay22]

Sticky Willy as its called up here...loads here too!

[Miss Mousetrousers]

Blasted stuff grows here every year! I must say it's tremendously satisfying to hoick out great arms-full, let it wilt, then put it in your recycling bin but beware - examine every inch of your person, clothes (including hems and trouser turn-ups), hair, dog, cat, wabbit or whatever because it will find its way back and re-seed. Its little roots are as strong as a spider's web so hoeing is not the way to get it out as it can re-grow during the season unless you can get to its root; even then, it will have some hidden growth you overlooked which will stick in some interesting places such as ... answers on a postcard please!

[Nicos]

Loads here too...and the chooks are loving it!

[Baldy]

http://youtu.be/cLYWhMDhwDs

Costa on the beach MM

[Tiny Allotment]

As Baldy says above. Treat it like a free vegetable and eat it.

Paul

[Mr Growser...]

The stuff we have round here has gone too far - thanks though, Balders for the link. (Don't remember about liking peas, but you're a better man than I am Gunga Din)!

I just struggle to get down the path these days, and may hire a tractor...

It's way up lots of hedges here, and round the village, and will presumably turn yellow and look horrible!

[SaraJH]

Ive got a bit of affection for 'sticky weed', one of my horses used to love it, down at the stables I used to spend hours pulling the stuff up for him to eat

Leading him to the field was always interesting, he was quite a big brute and very adept at spotting the stuff and dragging me into the hedgerows!