Can I make a liquid feed from this weed?

[Ashaman42]

Got a bunch of this growing in the 'flower bed' out front



After reading on the vine about making liquid feeds from nettles and comfrey I was wondering what this is and is it suitable for making a feed in the same fashion.

Seems better to get some use out of it if I can, my neighbour has some industrial strength weedkiller but was thinking of having some shade tolerant veg there at some point so would like to avoid too much in the way of chemicals.

[Jeanied]

Looks like goose grass to me- an annual weed. Pull it up before it sets seed, if you catch it early it should not return.

[Glutton4...]

I agree with Jeanie; Goose Grass/Cleavers/Sticky Willie/Sticky Buds.... good for Horses, supposedly!

It will seed everywhere, if you don't rip it out. I'm going to folow Two Sheds' advice, and drown all my perennial weeds in a Water-but, then use the liquid as feed!

[Ashaman42]

Well I will try and pull it out tomorrow evening then, not too worried about it seeding as that's what it did last year but may as well get rid of it.

Will try and find something to drown it in (got a couple buckets but nothing with a lid), will drowning for a good while be enough to kill the seeds? Don't want to use the liquid as a feed and have loads of Goose grass popping up.

[grannymem]

I'm not sure, but could it be sweet woodruff?

[Jeanied]

If it soaks long enough it will start to rot - you will be able to smell when that happens. Rotted seeds won't germinate so you should be fine using the liquid diluted as a feed. If you are worried, strain off the liquid and chuck the solids away once your compost tea has 'brewed'

[Two_Sheds]

not too worried about it seeding as that's what it did last year... have loads of Goose grass popping up.

lol

and next year you'll have even more if you keep letting it seed

It's definitely cleavers, we used to stick it on people's backs when we were kids

I wouldn't go to the bother of drowning it, just chuck it on the compost heap

[Flummery]

Woodruff is shiny. I have it in my front garden - love it!