The best defence against dandelions in your lawn is to maintain as dense a grass structure as possible. You’ll need to remove the whole root otherwise, it will grow back. So, if you want to kill off the plants, wait until the flowers have faded before your tackle the plant.
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The fluffy seeds scatter in the breeze, and before you realise it, your lawn and flowerbeds are full of them.Īgain, dandelion flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators during the spring.
These jolly yellow flowers are instantly recognisable in their flowering and seeding form. These are a good source of nectar for insects, so they’re by no means an unwelcome addition to your garden.Ĭheck out our expert guide to removing clover from your lawn for more information about this attractive weed. Most clover varieties bloom in the summer, producing small, cute white or purple flowers that resemble bed hair after a night out. You’ll recognise clover by the unmistakable three-leafed clusters. Clover CloverĬlover is a hard-to-fight herb that even survives the frostiest of British winters. It’s no fun to walk barefoot on your lawn and come across a thistle underfoot, after all. While they’re attractive plants, thistles can consume a lot of soil nutrients, so you won’t want them in your lawn. There are many types of thistle to be found in the UK, from the characteristic thistle found on the back of a Scottish £50 note to thistley weeds found growing in bald patches on your lawn. Thistle Purple thistle – Photo by Photo by henry perks on Unsplash However, these are the nine most commonly found in gardens. There are hundreds of species of weeds commonly found in the UK.
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The most common weeds in the UK (and how to recognise them) But they will take over if left to their own devices. This is because even a small amount of root that survives can regrow into a new plant.Īlmost without exception, these weeds can add attractive colour and texture to a flowerbed. Root weeds have extended, deep root networks, which are often the most difficult to remove from your garden.
So, yes - seed dispersal is a problem! Types of weeds In warm, still conditions, around 1 in 7000 seeds travel up to a kilometre! The faded dandelion transforms into a ball of white fluff, and when ripe and ready, they’re ripped from the plant by a gust of wind, landing up to 10 metres from the plant.Ī great bit of trivia for a pub quiz: the best conditions for dandelion seed dispersal is a calm, sunny day which creates thermal updraughts allowing wider distribution - not windy days (which tend to direct the seeds downwards). Some seeds with panicles (or wings), such as the dandelion and sycamore, float in the wind for wide distribution. For example, squirrels collecting nesting materials from around your garden helps disperse seeds as they stick to their fur, and dogs running around the garden transfer weeds from one area to another.īut the biggest culprits are birds that excrete undigested berry seeds while in flight, which land in your garden. Most weeds are self-seeders, meaning their seeds spread in the air or are dispersed by animals. So, while not all weeds are bad, some will dominate your garden. Self-seeding weeds tend to have an aggressive character - they take over the soil and draw nutrition from the plants you’ve chosen. Weeds tend to appear where you least want them: in your lawn, your flowerbeds, or in between the cracks in your patio. Most people think weeds are plants that simply appear, spread, and self-seed. In principle, any plant species could be considered a weed. For example, the beautiful aquilegia spreads around your garden like wildfire - but you’ll never regret allowing those self-seeders to infiltrate your garden. What is “undesirable” depends on your preference.
So, in theory, any plant species could be considered a weed. The most helpful definition, perhaps, is that a weed is simply an unwanted plant - one that appears rather than grows as a result of cultivation. Because what one person labels a weed, another person encourages because they provide pretty flowers that attract beneficial bees and insects. Let’s get straight to the point here: there’s no clear objective definition of a weed. What are weeds? Grass thistle growing in the lawn This article is all about weeds and their ability to survive against the odds. And sometimes, we should embrace the wild and allow them to live and spread around our gardens. The most common weeds in the UK (and how to recognise them)īut weeds have had a bad rap over the years.
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