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Knowing exactly what is growing in your garden – plant or otherwise - has its advantages. You can research just what the weeds need to grow and eliminate these from you garden –thus getting to the root of the problem rather than just either pulling the pests out or spraying them with a chemical.
To eliminate all weeds you need to regularly tend to your garden by weeding and general maintenance.
The following are weeds found in most everyday gardens:
Hairy bittercress
This is a common weed that seems to develop very quickly and can easily take root in compost of new plants – check before you buy anything new before planting.
Annual meadow grass
This is often found in lawns and also appears in neglected borders. It can be prevented by good and regular maintenance of both lawns and borders and regular mowing.
Annual nettle
This nettle is a regular weed found in most gardens. They tend to spring up rather quickly in beds, borders and any vacant spaces in-between plants. This nettle needs a chemical weedkiller for the prevention in future years. Try glyphosate or glyphosate trimesium.
Groundsel
This is also found in borders and beds and after setting seed it grows just about anywhere. Ensure that you handweed and remove all seedlings. Covering the ground with bark chips or gravel can stop them spreading.
Chickweed
This is a small root-ball with lots of little leaves. Handweeding regularly usually keeps these weeds at bay.
Dock
Although helpful when the nettle is around, these are also weeds and grow from small root sections. For removal you will need a weedkiller containing 14-D or MCPA.
Horsetail
This weed has underground stems and can spread and grow very rapidly. Digging from the surface is rarely successful so the use of a glyphosate weedkiller is recommended.
Couch grass
Often found in borders and beds this weed has spreading roots. Try smothering with black polythene or laying bark chippings.
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