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weeds

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I have a problem with weeds in my back garden. I bought the house in July 2014. It was terrible st that point. I pull out about 800 weeds per day. I should finish in early 2019.

On a serious note; do people pull out weeds on the lawn? I have tried applying weed and feed a few times since I moved in but it has has little effect

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  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,127 Forumite
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    Its a bit late now to use weedkillers you need to sue them when plants are actively growing.

    My allotment in 2014 was covered in weeds. I sprayed weedkiller in march 2014 and I now keep on top of them by weeding regularly that's really the only way even f you kill weeds there are billions of seeds in the ground waiting for there chance. if you get them early they easier to pull out.

    I have a little too thats like a screwdriver with a fork in middle can easily pull out dandelions if they small and I use a small hand fork for rest.
  • w00519772
    w00519772 Posts: 1,297 Forumite
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    savemoney wrote: »
    Its a bit late now to use weedkillers you need to sue them when plants are actively growing.

    My allotment in 2014 was covered in weeds. I sprayed weedkiller in march 2014 and I now keep on top of them by weeding regularly that's really the only way even f you kill weeds there are billions of seeds in the ground waiting for there chance. if you get them early they easier to pull out.

    I have a little too thats like a screwdriver with a fork in middle can easily pull out dandelions if they small and I use a small hand fork for rest.

    Is it worth pulling them all out? There would be holes all over the lawn afterwards.
  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,127 Forumite
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    edited 14 November 2015 at 12:46AM
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    Yes you can use a small tool like I got can pull small dandelions out easily and it doesn't leave much in way of holes should be easy when ground is wet

    This is type of thing I have

    4059nb.jpg

    These are good too but not cheap

    I think aldi had a cheaper version of one earlier this year

    http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/fiskars-weed-puller---stainless-steel-and-aluminium-178414
  • w00519772
    w00519772 Posts: 1,297 Forumite
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    savemoney wrote: »
    Yes you can use a small tool like I got can pull small dandelions out easily and it doesn't leave much in way of holes should be easy when ground is wet

    This is type of thing I have

    4059nb.jpg

    These are good too but not cheap

    I think aldi had a cheaper version of one earlier this year

    http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/fiskars-weed-puller---stainless-steel-and-aluminium-178414

    Your link is broken. What is the benefit of a weed puller in comparison to just pulling out the weeds?
  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,127 Forumite
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    A tool for dandelions usually removes the whole plant if you leave a tiny bit of roots in soil it will come back

    Fiskars weed puller


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OebDnet38k

    http://www.diy.com/departments/fiskars-weed-puller/228138_BQ.prd
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    Weeds are best attacked with weedkillers when actively growing, so now is no good.

    Lawns can be treated in late spring with selective weedkillers which target only broadleaved plants, but what level of weeds is acceptable, and which ones, determines how this is done and how often.

    For example, dandelions can receive spot treatment because they are large. If clover is unacceptable, then an overall treatment, at more expense, would be appropriate.

    I'd love to have the time to fret over clover! :rotfl:
  • Ectophile
    Ectophile Posts: 7,335 Forumite
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    Just to emphasise that there are specific lawn weedkiller sprays on the marker. Spraying glyphosate everywhere might not be a good idea.

    Read the label - you're not supposed to spray before mowing, after mowing or during a drought.

    I also use one of the weed puller tools to lever out dandelions and the like. It's a cheap and nasty one that bends if you lever too hard. Just grabbing hold of the leaves and pulling doesn't work on things with tap roots. You have to get at least some of the root out as well.
    If it sticks, force it.
    If it breaks, well it wasn't working right anyway.
  • Verdrone... to hit lawn weeds. The lawn feed/weed killer not too effective at knocking weeds out.
  • briancarter
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    I use an onion hoe when the weather is warm and the weeds are actively growing. You can weed a large area relatively quickly and all you do is let the warm weather dessicate the weeds that you have uprooted on the soil surface. If the beds are bare soil then i would glyphosate when the weather starts to warm up - pick a day when there is some moisture on the plants to aid uptake of the weed killer.
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