Join Kate today at Four Acre where she'll be telling us all about the most common UK weeds. As you know using the No Dig method will absolutely help with weed pressure, but of course, we'll still need to keep on top of a few invasive species!
Looking at weeds from a different approach, we can appreciate that they are just plants in the wrong place, and they all have their own function and part to play in our ecosystem. Some annual weeds will need to be kept under control as they are fast-growing and have strong root systems though some make fantastic compost!
Kate offers her expert knowledge on what weeds to look out for and explains how to remove them as each tricky plant has its own system for reappearing on your patch!
Ones to watch out for:
- Bindweed - They can strangle your produce
- Ground elder - They will carpet the plot with its matting roots
- Brambles - Track its roots and remove them as soon as possible
- Nettle - Full of nutrients used in a controlled way in teas, tinctures & fertilizer
- Creeping Buttercup - Can keep popping up if the web of roots is not removed
- Groundsel -Can seed and regrow 7 times in one year!
- Couch grass - fast growing and deep rooting
- Thistle - pick underneath soil, don’t leave tap root
- Dock - brings up a lot of minerals and nutrients to the top of the soil but is very fast-growing
Top Tip: Use a rake or hoe just before they pop up, which is best just after rain, use your trowel to be able to lift weeds up with deep roots.