Turf Weeds
Weeds are often stigmatized as a plant that is an eyesore and when overpopulated as having a negative effect on your garden. Therefore, we’re not surprised when the common consensus is that they just do not have a place in a tidy, modern garden. As this is the case, we wanted to illustrate some of the common culprits that infiltrate our gardens and provide tips on how to control them.
The most common turf weeds that we’ll be going over in this list are:
- Dandelions
- Selfheal
- Cats-Ear
- Daisies
- Greater Plantain
- Creeping Buttercup
- White/Dutch Clover
- Common Chickweed
Dandelions
This is one of the most common weeds that most people have come across at some point or other. It’s very distinguishable by its bright yellow petals and prostate leaves. Aesthetically, this weed doesn’t look the best as it stands out like a sore thumb. It also has a negative affect with its large perennial leaves as they cover areas of grass and can suffocate the area.
Selfheal
The Selfheal is technically classed as a weed however some people actually welcome this flower as it has a visually appealing violet-blue flower. It is distinguishable by the brightly coloured flowers and creeping underground stems. This flower seems to thrive in a wet environment and is usually very common on unkempt lawns.
Cats-Ear
The Cats-Ear is very similar in terms of appearance to the Dandelion and is just as common. The bright yellow petals are the most obvious feature however the way to distinguish between this and a Dandelion is by the perennial leaves. The Cats-Ears leaves are more rounded and have many hairs on the surface. The preferred habitat is on drier, free draining soils with the weed itself flowering from May to September.
Daisy
The Daisy is undoubtedly one of the more common weeds found throughout the UK. Its main distinguishable features are its white spoon shaped petals and bright yellow inner dome. Although this plant may be linked with happy memories as a child making Daisy chains, it can cause issues within your garden when in larger numbers. The larger numbers will overpower other plants and could cause them to suffer from weak growth.
Greater Plantain
The Greater Plantain is a very common weed within the UK which is typically found in grassy areas. It is most distinguishable by its large, oval shaped leaves with a lighter coloured vein in the centre of the leaves. Generally, this weed causes nuisance because of its overbearing leaves blocking light and taking the majority of nutrients in the soil. It isn’t hard to remove however so it shouldn’t be much cause for concern. It is literally removed with a hoe or blade; with any remain eventually dying off once the bulk has been removed.
Creeping Buttercup
The Creeping Buttercup is also one of the more familiar weeds found in the UK and may be one that’s familiar from your childhood. It is most distinguishable by its five, glossy yellow petals with three, sharply toothed leaflets. Due to its persistent creeping stems this weed can grow and spread very fast if uncontrolled. The nuisance with this weed is with its surprisingly large, deep roots that can overpower other plants in the surrounding areas.
White/Dutch Clover
The White Clover is another weed on the list that becomes a nuisance when in larger numbers. It is distinguishable by its tear shaped green leaves and white flower which attracts bees. When in large numbers this weed will fight for lawn real estate which usually ends with it winning, due to its ability to spread easily.
Common Chickweed
As the name suggests, this weed is very common throughout the UK. Although it is a common weed it shouldn’t prove much of an issue when it comes to removing it from your lawn. It is visually distinguishable by its light green, oval shaped leaves and the white petals in the central flower.
The infographic below goes through the weeds in more detail and explains ways to culturally or chemically remove them.
