Weed identification needed

[Jersey Jan]

Hi all,
I have been reading through the posts and have tried the weed identification site suggested but my horrid weeds don't seem to be on there - can anyone help? Sorry I don't have a picture but they look like fairly broad-bladed grass to start with, and then seem to spread very rapidly with jointed 'arms' coming off the sides. The most noticeable thing is the very strong root system, even on the smallest weeds with 2 leaves. I call them tenacious grass, because they take some digging out, and because they went to seed last year I am now having a terrible problem to get rid of them all.

[Alice]

Can't tell without a picture Jan, but it could be couch grass. Try that under your weed identification.

[Jersey Jan]

Thanks Alice, Will try and get a pic tomorrow

[sewer rat]

I'm with Alice - from your description - and from the name you've given it - I would say it's probably couch grass but a piccie would confirm this.

[Jersey Jan]

Sorry guys didn't get up to the garden today (it's 10 min walk away up on a high terrace behind a church - used to be the vicar's garden) but have had a look on Google images at couch grass and it's deffo not that. Couch spreads by rhizomes and although I have got a small amount of that pesky stuff the one I'm on about is different - much broader leaves and the roots are in a huge clump underneath each plant, but not joined to any other plants underground. When fully grown they turn into a raised clump of broad-leaved grass and I think as well as setting seed they also grow strange brown blobby things off the roots which are some kind of bulbs.

[Alice]

Will you post a pic if you can Jan. Your garden sounds interesting. Have posted this pic of a plantain. Does your weed look like that. If it is plantains you have they die very quickly if you put some weed killer on them.

[charliefred]

You might be suffering from the dreaded horseradish!!!!!!!

If it is, send us some.

[Alice]

This is horseradish Jan, but don't really think it sounds like what you've got. Think we better have pic to get anywhere.

[Jersey Jan]

Only managed to get up to garden briefly today as daughter at home ill, but forgot to take the camera - sorry!
Made good use of time by averting eyes from rampaging weeds and instead digging up nice Jersey Royals, and picked mint, spinach (about to bolt), lettuce and 2 handfuls of the first strawberries this year. That has the makings of dinner then....

[Alice]

Sounds a bit like Ready, Steady, Cook! Sure it was delicious whatever it was. I could go for Jersey Royals all by themselves. A litlte ( no great big) bit of butter ( blow the cholesterol) and what else could a girl want !

[Jersey Jan]

If I have done this correctly this is a pic at last!
I should have put a ruler next to it but without the roots the small one is about one inch high and the biggest about 5 in - any ideas?

[Birdie Wife]

The closest thing to that in my grasses book is field woodrush, the size is about right and it does seem to have quite chunky roots. It's a native, but I wouldn't rule out something more exotic, given where you live!

Hope this helps...

[Jersey Jan]

Thanks for that, although the biggest one is a mere babe compared to the size they grow to if left undug - that's just the biggest I've got at the moment.
I managed to clear an onion bed and my sweetcorn today of the little devils, so only another couple of weeks of weeding left to do! Unfortunately I can't use weedkiller as I am growing organically and also they are right in with all my crops so although I tried hoeing them the only way is with a small fork and a lot of scrabbling!

[ugly gourd]

I think this is willow weed does it have a bright red root if it is its similar to bind weed very deep rooted Ive got it on my allotment and normally walk behind the plough with a bucket picking it out you also see it growing on the river banks and in ditches with a lovely pink flower but its a b****r on the lottie