Weed Misery

[OverWyreGrower]

Wah!

We have got a real problem with dock and creeping buttercup

The beds were cleared at the end of last year (December) by means of weeding and burning. A 4 inch thick mulch of horse manure was applied, then a layer of cardboard, then a layer of thick black plastic (letting no light through).

However, both the dock and creeping buttercup have now already grown through the horse manure, cardboard and plastic

What can I do??

Both plants have huge root systems and are horribly persistent. I'm not adverse to weedkiller/glyphosphate, but am a bit despondent that it's only March and they are already growing and spreading like wildfire

[PAULW]

OWG
I believe the buttercup on my plot have come from the hoss muck I collect so it may be not that you cant clean your plot up but you are reintroducing it, I clean it from one area only to have it appear in a differant place

[Jeanied]

I've had both on my plot, OWG - and although I can't say I have obliterated it totally, it is really not a huge problem - this is after a year of keeping on top of it - digging out the worst and hoeing regularly.

[Glutton4...]

The trouble with hoeing Creeping Buttercup is that you are making the problem worse. Ranunculus spreads underground, in a similar way to Bindweed. Every time you hoe it, you divide the plant again, creating more - remember Mickey Mouse in Fantasia?

[Two_Sheds]

Glutton's right: never bury buttercup, it will just regrow.

You have to cut through the crown and remove it. I throw the plants on the path to dry out completely, then I compost them (waste not, want not).

[Two_Sheds]

Docks need digging out individually: rotavating just increases the plant. Repeatedly cutting off the leaves will eventually weaken the plant.

Dock likes bare ground, so try and get the ground planted up asap, with a tall crop that will shade out the docks, if possible.

[OverWyreGrower]

We've not hoe-d either plant, rather we've dug them out because of the pernicious root systems

[Jeanied]

And dock roots go down to Oz.

[OverWyreGrower]

And dock roots go down to Oz.

Don't I know it!! If only my carrots and p-snips got that long!!!

[rustylady]

Dock roots go really deep, tap roots, so will need excavating. Buttercup is more shallow rooted, but still needs digging out. Sorry, just read that you have dug. How big are they? Are they seedlings or they growing from remains of roots?

[Glutton4...]

The trouble with digging is it disturbs dormant seeds. Ya can't bladdy win, huh?!