Russian Vine, Mares Tails, Dandelion and Nettles!

[Mrs Dobby]

As the title suggests, we have a rather huge problem on our new allotment with all of the above! Some of the nettles are 8foot tall, the russian vine has spread about 30 foot and there are lots of marestails and dandelion. The question is whats the best way to get rid of them?

Currently we are pulling / cutting everything down to ground level, and storing it to dry ready for burning, and then once we've done that we are planning on double digging the plot and removing by hand as many of the roots as possible, is it likely that this will eradicate or at least cut down the problem, or is there some other method we should be using?

Any help or advice would really be appreciated!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Ye Gods! we/sorry, I once planted 4 russian vine to a four fence panel fence! NEVER AGAIN! the darned things took over, and in no time whatsoever! Only thing you can do is chop them off at the base of the plant and then dig out the roots - and good luck ! dexterdog

[martini]

Hi Mrs D - put the nettles on the compost heap as they act as an accelerant. Youcould always make soup out of them and apparently they can cure rheumatism and get rid of head lice - don't fancy trying that though There are some threads on here about mares tails if you do a search.

[nick the grief]

Mares tail is apptly named as it's a mare to get rid of !!

It's usually a sign of poor drainage & the only reall answer is to use a weedkiller but you have to bruise the "leaves" first otherwise it just runs off & you'll need several applications. You could try one of the gell types that you brush on but I guess you' have too much for that.

Digging it out isn't really an option as it's roots have been found at the bottom of wells !! some idea of the size of the problem.

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks for the quick replies, I knew enough not to put the dandelion, mares tail or russian vine into the compost, and thought also we shouldnt compost nettles, but if they are good and dont grow back from the compost, then I guess they can join our already sizeable composting pile!

[Snadger]

Thanks for the quick replies, I knew enough not to put the dandelion, mares tail or russian vine into the compost, and thought also we shouldnt compost nettles, but if they are good and dont grow back from the compost, then I guess they can join our already sizeable composting pile!

If you get any big dandelion roots, dry them in the oven, grind them up and they make a good percolated coffee substitute!...Honestly!!!

[Mrs Dobby]

Also good for infusion as a tea to strengthen digestive system and can act as a laxative! Or some some of my books tell me!

[Alice]

You can dig the others out if you want Mrs Doby, but as Nick says, weedkiller, maybe several applications - and that just to keep them under control - is the only answer to Mares tails. If you're spraying with weedkiller anyway, you might just as well do the nettles - they give in easy - and the dandelions while you're at it.
In addition to the properties mentioned for dandelions they are also a good diuretic - hence their Scottish name - pee the beds. The French also know about this. They call them pis de lis (pee the bed). Anybody know if they have the same name in any other language.

[Earthbabe]

The German name is Lowenzahn (lion's teeth). Our word dandelion is from dents de lion, I think that's to do with the serrated edges of the leaves.

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks for the advice guys! Looks like its weedkiller tomorrow, aswell as continue clearing the site out! Yay a day off, so can spend most of it down the lottie!

[Alice]

Thanks for that Earthbabe. I'm always interested to know where names come from and how they get around the world.

[martini]

Dandelion in Spanish is 'diente de leon' - again like German and French = lion's tooth - I suppose you could say you might pee yourself if you saw a lion coming towards you with its mouth open