Which is the worst weed?

[joyceybabe]

In my veg garden I think the worst is chickweed. I can never get on top of it. It chokes everything. When I pull it up, I can never get it all up and it regrows all the time. Especially through the peas and carrots - in fact everything. It is in the greenhouse too and seeds prolifically.

[Seagull]

I expect if you asked 20 different people, you'd get 20 different answers, but for me it has to be bindweed. I even prefer dandelions - at least they look pretty. But bindweed is on a single-weed mission to take over my plot and strangulate everything in its sight.

[Bren In Pots]

Joyce have a read here at an older thread :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eed_64102.html

on it bindweed seems to give the most problems.

[joyceybabe]

Luckily there isn't any bindweed anywhere near where I live. I remember a couple of years ago, my husband dug up some Solomon's Seal from his mothers garden. We both love the plant so he put it in our horse field near the hedge. The Solomon's Seal died but must have had some bindweed roots in there as well and now the hedge is smothered in bindweed for I would say 10 metres or more! The field is half a mile away so shouldn't get to my garden - I hope. The other weed I have that is troublesome is a bit like rosebay willow herb but a lot smaller - don't know the name of it but it has fluffy seeds that spread everywhere.

[Noosner]

Luckily there isn't any bindweed anywhere near where I live. I remember a couple of years ago, my husband dug up some Solomon's Seal from his mothers garden. We both love the plant so he put it in our horse field near the hedge. The Solomon's Seal died but must have had some bindweed roots in there as well and now the hedge is smothered in bindweed for I would say 10 metres or more! The field is half a mile away so shouldn't get to my garden - I hope. The other weed I have that is troublesome is a bit like rosebay willow herb but a lot smaller - don't know the name of it but it has fluffy seeds that spread everywhere.

Think I've got that last weed you mention, JB. It dries to a stick, then a little rosette of leaves pops up around the stick? Plus everywhere else. I haven't managed to get rid of it on my allotment after 4 years or trying. The other ones are couch grass and creeping buttercup.

[Kirk]

Ignoring the growing side as exclusive it would have the be japanese knot weed.
Get that and it could be loss of house and if on an allotment or allotment site they would destroy everything they felt necessary to eliminate it. They take no chances with that stuff.

[jacob]

Grass. Will it grow on my lawn? No. Will it grow in my beds? Yes.

Then nettles because they sting me when I'm removing them. Then that stuff that looks like carrots until you realise it isn't (Queen Anne's lace?)

[joyceybabe]

Think I've got that last weed you mention, JB. It dries to a stick, then a little rosette of leaves pops up around the stick? Plus everywhere else. I haven't managed to get rid of it on my allotment after 4 years or trying. The other ones are couch grass and creeping buttercup.

Here is a picture of said weed that I found on'tinternet just as it is coming up to flower. Each flower stalk becomes a seed pod which splits open to reveal the fluffy seeds - and yes Noosner, it does grow a rosette of leaves.

http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/b...n/CIMG8914.jpg

[sparrow100]

I like getting things with tap roots out - nettles, docks, buttercup - it's all very satisfying. I ruddy hate bindweed though. And horsetail, though that's more for its persisterance.

[joyceybabe]

It seems I am quite lucky then on only worrying about chickweed! I do have nettles, docks and buttercups but I like digging those up. Never had any mare's tail, bindweed or japanese knotweed so I should thank my lucky stars. Just been out to pull some more chickweed but accidentally pulled up some pea plants which it had grown through.

[Noosner]

Here is a picture of said weed that I found on'tinternet just as it is coming up to flower. Each flower stalk becomes a seed pod which splits open to reveal the fluffy seeds - and yes Noosner, it does grow a rosette of leaves.

http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/b...n/CIMG8914.jpg

That looks mighty familiar, jb! Any idea what it is?

[WendyC]

Rosebay willow herb?


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[Noosner]

Rosebay willow herb?


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It does look like rbwh Wendy, but it's a lot smaller. It doesn't grow to much more than a foot high.

[joyceybabe]

Not as tall as RBWH and the flowers are much smaller - just 2 or 3mm across. I have had it in my garden for years. It can be hidden among the plants then suddenly I notice the tell-tale seed heads which by then is too late! I have looked on-line and in books but haven't been able to identify it. I am positive though that it is a very common weed.... or is it?

[Martin H]

It's a willow herb of some kind. There are lots, I've never been able to make a specific identification of mine.