When it comes to gardening chores, pulling up weeds can be like pulling teeth: it’s a painful process that nobody wants to go through but is often a necessary evil that’s a means to an end.

However, like pulling teeth, doing so yourself is probably not the smartest way to go about it. Not only can it be risky but it can also result in further complications down the line.

In order to ensure you get the job done well first time, the best bet is to call in the experts. Luckily, your friendly neighbourhood weed whackers here at TWC have you covered... for weeds that is, not teeth pulling.

But there’s a lot more to de-weeding a garden than simply yanking up unsightly plants from the roots. Like any self-respecting professional, lawn care experts will also need a license to do so.

Law of the Land

In order to professionally administer weed killer, lawncare specialists must come equipped with a relevant weed killer license that permits them to do so – and with good reason.

The chemicals used can not only be harmful to the untrained but also to the environment if used incorrectly. To avoid harm to yourself, your garden or others, it’s important that whoever that your garden expert of choice is a fully licensed pro.

While you are free to use over the counter weed killer products on your own domestic land, commercial weed killing services can no longer be supplied without the relevant qualifications, following the introduction of new laws in 2015.

This is great news for prideful professionals, as it weeds out the industry cowboys; however, it’s also good news for you, the consumer. Stricter training regulations mean you get a better service and more professional treatment of your lawn if you do turn to an expert for a helping hand.

Weed Out the Competition

So, just what do you need to look out for when identifying if your chosen pro is licensed to use weed killer?

The specific qualifications your pro will need to have are in particular are the PA1 and PA6 qualifications. These are commonly known collectively as the NPTC Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides.

In order to pass as a fully-qualified weed removal expert, your chosen expert will need to have both PA1 and PA6 certification in order to qualify as a horticultural hitman of weeds. One or the other won’t suffice, so be sure they have both sides of the equation covered.

The PA1 represents the theory side of the course – including health and safety requirements, product knowledge and legislation – while the PA6 covers the all-important practical side, providing first-hand experience of manual handling and safe pesticide use.

Once completed, the course provides a lifetime qualification for safe use of pesticides in public places. As a life-long license, there is no expiry to this certification (barring any drastic changes in regulations or chemical usage).

Grandfather Rights

To muddy up the process even further, you may stumble across the term “grandfather rights”. This is in reference to a legal loophole that allows those born before 1965 to use professional crop protection without a weed killer license.

However, since the updated laws came into effect, this loophole is no longer valid and the term has now run its course. If your lawncare professional does try to pull a fast one using the “grandfather” card, don’t be afraid to lay down the law and give them what for.

Additional Paperwork

In addition to a valid weed killer license, it’s also worth checking your lawn care professional is covered with the relevant Public Liability Insurance.

PLI covers the service provider for your compensation, should something go awry with the treatment and you need to make a claim (such as personal injury or property damage).

While this may not seem like your concern as a consumer, it’s good to know that your lawn care professional is capable of paying up should worse come to worst.

Good to Know

While often used interchangeably, there is actually a notable difference between the “pesticides” and “herbicides”. Luckily, the name tags of each provide a not-so-subtle clue as to which one is which.

Pesticides are chemicals used to control harmful insects that can destroy flowers and other vegetation. Herbicides, on the other hand, are chemicals used to treat weeds that can negatively affect and hinder the growth of vegetation. Despite the difference between the two, both are covered under the PA1 and PA6 license.

If you do decide to use weed killer on your own garden, be careful when ordering products online as some professional-grade weed killer products found online requires an equally professional applicators license. To avoid any issues, be sure to double-check before you hit the “order” button.

For safe, secure and certified weed killing services, Taylor Weed Control offers all that and then some. Our fully-licensed weed killing services are both effective and affordable, guaranteed to save your garden from any weedy worries you may have.

For more information on our lawncare and weed killing services from Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE survey.

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If weeds have taken over your garden and claimed it as their own, wrestling back control can seem like a mammoth task. In today's blog, we're going to talk you through the different ways you can remove weeds from large areas with ease.

You could just bend the knee and admit defeat to your new perennial overlords, content with living out your days as a mere tenant on weedy land.

Failing that, you could fight back and give these weedy warriors a grass-kicking to remember!

If you want to learn the best ways to clear a large area of weeds, you’re in the right place. Read on for the inside track on just how to remove weeds from a large area.

SOS: Save Our Soils

Before you begin the de-weeding process, you need to ask yourself one question (besides “Do you feel lucky?”) – that being whether or not there are plants worth saving.

If the answer is “yes”, you could be limiting your options as far as widespread weed removal goes.

Weeding a large surface area can be done fairly simply; however, treating a large area without negatively affecting certain plants within that area can pose some tricky problems.

Should your patch of plight house a prized plant, you may need to remove the weeds individually to avoid killing off the crops you aren’t willing to sacrifice. In this instance, the best way to clear a large area of weeds is to carefully remove them by hand!

Have a Hoe-Down

Any experienced gardener will tell you that an essential tool for removing weeds is the humble garden hoe. These come in a variety of forms, ranging from flat wide to diamond-shaped.

For large areas, hand-sized hoes are not going to cut it, while narrow-bladed hoes – like the Warren hoe and triangular hoe – can also make a real meal of the task at hand.

Instead, opt for a larger hoe, complete with a long handle and with a wide blade, such as a standard gardening hoe, an onion hoe or an eye hoe. This will allow you to break up a wider area more efficiently. 

If there aren't too many previous plants around, grabbing a hoe to remove large clusters of weeds is a very effective way to weed a large area.  

Take Cover

Another great option for large area weed removal is to cover the area with landscape fabric. This will prevent the weeds from sourcing oxygen, smothering the weeds into submission. Old carpet and black polythene will also work just as well, although they might be a bit of an eye-sore.

While these large area weed removal methods can be effective, they can also take months to kill off the unwanted weeds and there are few gardeners who are willing to wait this long. If you still think that covering the weeds is the best way to remove weeds in large areas, you could combat the eyesore by adding chipped bark over the top to help disguise the covering.

 Professional Weed Removal

Despite the tips and hints above, perhaps the best way to remove weeds from large area lawns is to enlist professional help and call in the experts.

There’s no shame in delegating the weed duties elsewhere. After all, weeds have a nasty habit of returning; ineffective treatment can result in unsuccessful removal and recurring problems down the line.

What’s more, weed removal can be a time-consuming process at the best of times, let alone when you’re dealing with an earthy epidemic that engulfs your whole garden. Save yourself the hassle and leave it to the pros.

Here at Taylor Weed Control, our cavalry of weed-whacking warriors come equipped with the heavy-hitting artillery, packing professional equipment, industry-grade pesticides and expert knowledge on how to use them.

For weed removal that’s efficient, economical and effective, call Taylor Weed Control today on 029 2039 7554. Alternatively, drop us a line using the button below and request a FREE garden survey today!

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Okay, first things first, just what are perennial weeds?

As the name so accurately suggests, perennial weeds are simply troublesome vegetation that recur regeneratively time and again with a seemingly infinite frequency (i.e. perennial in nature).

These persistent little pests can be a major headache for gardeners and make for an ugly addition to an otherwise perfect flower bed. Without proper treatment, these troublesome weeds can crop up year after year like a botanical bad penny.

If knowledge is power then it’s time to take the power back, as we take a closer look at Britain’s most common perennial weeds.

What Perennial Weeds Are Common in the UK?

Ranging from the humble dandelion to the common buttercup, perennial weeds can come in a whole host of shapes, sizes and, of course, species.

Naturally, some are a little easier on the eye than others and sadly not all weeds will take the form of the aesthetically pleasant buttercup – which is all the more reason to give your soily squatters a speedy eviction.

Here are the five most common perennial weeds you may see in and around your garden.

Bramble

Featuring long thorny stems, brambles can grow up to 2m high. While they can feature clusters of white or pink flowers during the spring/summer, they are most recognisable by their fruit – the blackberry!

Thistle

Thistles are commonly found in two varieties: the spear plume and the creeping thistle. The former is relatively easy to deal with, while the latter is far more troublesome. Characterised by dark pink/purple flowers at the top of the stem, the creeping thistle is both easily spread and hard to unroot.

Bindweed

Boasting eye-catching white flowers, this somewhat pleasant-looking weed can be very misleading. Beneath the service, its roots can burrow very deep and are frustratingly brittle, making them almost impossible to remove whole.

Nettle

Commonly used for tea, soup and even smoothies, nettles can be a helpful weed to have around – particularly if you are adventurous in the kitchen. However, they can also be potentially hazardous due to their stinging hairs and can grow wildly out of hand if left to themselves. The roots can become a tangled mess beneath the surface, while the plant itself can grow to over a metre in height.

Dock

While dock leaves are famed for their soothing qualities in neutralising nettle stings, docks are still deemed weeds themselves. If left to mature, dock seeds are produced in abundance and can spread easily. Worse still, dock seeds can survive in soil for up to half a century!

Dealing with Perennial Weeds

So, just how do we give these weedy perennials an everlasting burial?

Like most problems in the garden, this is one problem that can be solved by rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty. If you don’t happen to have any sleeves, now's the time to get changed – ‘cos it’s time to roll them up and get in the dirt!

The most effective way to weed out these perennial pains is to go straight to the source and get to the root of the problem… that being the roots. Unfortunately, most perennials weeds have roots that spread deep and wide, so ridding your soil of its outstretched tentacles can be a tough task. Tough but not impossible.

Physically pulling them out is a wise place to start; however, this may not be possible for weeds with brittle or stubborn roots. If yanking doesn’t get the job done, another way to deal with your weedy invader is to give the area a good old-fashioned forking. If available, it’s also a good idea to use a hoe and plough thoroughly.

Outrageous innuendos aside, yanking, forking and hoeing are the holy trinity of removing/destroying most perennial weeds. If the roots aren’t removed entirely, the damage done from the trauma should break up any remains, preventing regeneration. However, it's important to remember that this is a general rule of thumb and each weed may require its own particular approach.

If you still need assistance or aren’t sure how to deal with your particular case of perennial weeds, it may be worth considering chemical warfare in the form of weedkillers; however, if this is the case, it may be easier (and safer) all round to simply call in the experts.

For more information on weedkillers, treatments and general weed removal tips, why not drop us a line or enlist our team of experts to remove your problem plants for you?

Call today on 029 2039 7554 or hit the button below to contact us for a free survey now!

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Any keen gardeners will have heard about Japanese knotweed supposedly having the ability to break through strong, impermeable materials like concrete. Can Japanese knotweed actually grow through concrete? Well, not exactly...

Japanese knotweed is one of the most relentless plants that will happily invade and spread through your garden, causing lots of damage as it goes. But, it's not strong enough to force its way through solid concrete slabs or walls.

That being said... Japanese knotweed is notorious for finding its way through small cracks and holes making it appear as though it has broken through all kinds of stony surfaces on its own!

The root of the problem:

Like any other plant, Japanese knotweed needs sunlight and water to grow. This means that it will take advantage of any crack or hole big enough to fit a trickle of water or a ray of sunshine down! Japanese knotweed's complex root system will send new shoots out to all of these available places, which is why our problem with this weed is so widespread. 

Getting rid of Japanese knotweed:

Unfortunately, most people's efforts to eradicate the plant themselves do not work, simply because destroying the visible plant will barely impact the complex root system underground. To tackle Japanese knotweed efficiently, you really need an expert team to deal with the weed.

Here at Taylor Weed Control, we have years of experience dealing with Japanese knotweed all over South Wales - so we're sure we can help you! Read more about our Japanese knotweed removal service here:

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Identifying Japanese knotweed can be a challenge on its own, you may have noticed some pesky weeds poking up through the paving around your garden. If you're not sure what they are, or how to get rid of them properly, contact us for a FREE lawn survey!

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What is Himalayan balsam?

Himalayan Balsam is an invasive plant with easily identifiable pink or white heart-shaped flowers, that was introduced to the UK in 1839. If you've ever wandered along a riverbank, pond or lake, we guarantee you will have seen it at least once! Himalayan balsam is a fairly common and widespread weed nowadays!

The reason it's able to flourish as much as is it does is because it can survive in low-level light conditions where other plants would struggle. Generally, Himalayan balsam grows to just over 2 metres tall and can be seen flowering in the middle and end of summer.  When the seeds are ready, the Himalayan balsam's seed pods explode violently, dispersing over 800 seeds per plant, no wonder we have such a rapidly expanding problem!

How can I get rid of it?

If you want to try and control the Himalayan balsam yourself you can try cutting the plant back or pulling it up before it has a chance to seed. Of course, with Himalayan balsam growing incredibly tall and in difficult to reach places, this method can be time-consuming and often ineffective. Using this method, you'll be lucky if it takes no fewer than three years to completely get rid of the Himalayan balsam!

If you need to use something that's much more likely to eradicate the problem quickly, weedkiller is the route to take. You could opt for a contact weedkiller which is applied directly to the weeds and is unlikely to harm other plants around the Himalayan balsam. Residual weed killers are less precise and can remain in the soil for a couple of weeks after you apply them.

Because Himalayan balsam tends to grow in wet areas, special care needs to be taken when you apply any kind of weedkiller. If any weedkiller leaks into the water accidentally, it may pose a health and safety risk! Generally, the best way to choose a suitable weedkiller is to take some time to read the bottle before purchasing.

Contact Taylor Weed Control

If you don't have the time (or will power) to browse the entire weedkiller aisle to deal with your Himalayan balsam problem, why not leave it to the professionals? 

Here at Taylor Weed Control, we can help you eliminate the Himalayan balsam in no time! We use techniques and weedkillers only available to industry professionals. click the button below to fill in our enquiry form, and we'll be in contact soon!

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