The infographic below provides a brief overview of all the common lawn weeds that we have come across throughout South Wales and the South West over the years. Some are more damaging and more difficult to get rid of than others, so we have provided essential information about each that you will need to know! 

Infographic Transcript 

Ephemeral Weeds

This weed type tends to have more than one life cycle per year, therefore ordinary weed killers are not particularly effective. The word ‘ephemeral’ means transitory or quickly fading, referring to the unique growth strategies exhibited by these types of weeds. In each of these growing strategies, the ephemeral weed has a life cycle timed to exploit a short period when specific resources are freely available such as low waters and wet periods.

Groundsel

• Grows 5-22cm high
• Lobed leaves & small yellow flowers
• Sets seed within 4-6 weeks
• Seeds germinate throughout the year apart from midwinter

Hairy Bittercress

• Compact plant growing 3-5cm high
• Tiny white flowers
• Sets seeds within 4-6 weeks
• Weed of cool moist conditions – improving drainage will help control

Chickweed

• Grows 5-7cm high
• Vigorous spreading habit with small white flowers and an extensive root system
• One of the most common ephemeral weeds
• Set seeds quickly – germinate easily in damp soil

Annual Weeds

These types of weed grow and flower in a short period of time. They tend to seed in the winter and come back throughout various times in the year, living for only one season, hence why they are given the name ‘annual’. The trigger for these types of weeds often come from a few wet days during Spring. Take a look a some of the most common annual weeds below.

Fat Hen

• Grows up to 27cm high
• Broad leaves with small indistinct green/white flowers
• Found on rich soil – seedlings germinate in dense patches
• Seeds persist for a long time and will germinate readily

Yellow Oxalis

• Grows around 5cm high but it a prolific seeder
• Seeds are dropped from barely visible pods before even noticing its presence
• Once present will multiply very quickly
• Often found in nursery plant pots

Prickly Milk Thistle

• Can grow up to 90cm high – often smaller
• Pale yellow flowers
• Seeds set in as little as four weeks if the plant is in a dry and shaded place
• Strong taproot, making it difficult to remove when established

Perennial Weeds

These types of weeds are persistent and prone to becoming more and more challenging as time goes on. Perennial weeds appear every year from the same plant and are difficult to get rid of. Many have deep roots which need to be removed but once this is done, smaller regrowth can be handled in an easier manner. These weeds have the ability to cause a great deal of disturbance to your lawn and garden.

Dandelion

• Can take 6-9 month to remove by digging out small roots
• Remove as much as parent root as possible to avoid the possibility of re-grow
• A common weed which spreads easily, they are valued for their medicinal properties and culinary use
• Leaves are diuretic which cleanses the liver, provide rich mineral content

Dock Leaf

• Look a lot more difficult to remove than they actually are
• Slicing through the tap root about 6 inches down and removing as much as possible will often stop it from re-growing
• Once seed heads mature, large clusters of brown seeds are produced – best burnt
• Friends as well as foe – Soothes skin stung by nettles by rubbing on affected area

Bramble

• Always look far more difficult to remove than they actually are
• Often grows with a tangle of long thorny stems
• Remove all stems initially and then remove the root
• Mulching helps after the ground has been cleared

These are just a selection of the common lawn weeds that you’re likely to find on your property.

If you do happen to come across any of these weeds or any other weeds that you may be unsure of, be sure to visit our website https://www.taylor-weed-control.co.uk/ for more information on our weed removal services!