What’s that weed?!

Most weeds are shallow rooting and can be easily pulled out by hand if you catch them early enough or by using our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer, but for those that aren’t – you may have to find alternative ways to tackle them.

Our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer can tackle most of the weeds you can find in your lawn, including Dandelion, Chickweed, Plantain and more. However, some weeds can be quite stubborn and may require a more selective herbicide* to get rid of them completely.

Dandelion

Dandelions are well-known weeds with bright yellow heads and jagged leaves. They are most common in overgrown or uncared for lawns although they can randomly appear in certain areas – and once removed, won’t return. They can also appear if your lawn has not been mown for a long time. The quickest and easiest way to get rid of dandelions is to use a garden towel to dig the plant and its roots out – discarding of it in your compost or food waste bin. If you have a large area that has been invaded by dandelions you can apply our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer to get rid of them completely. Alternatively, if you quite like the wild look – we do have a guide on how to wildscape your lawn.

Fat Hen

Fat Hen, sometimes also called White Goosefoot is a fast growing weed that will take over your garden if not dealt with promptly. Starting off as a low-lying leafy weed, it will soon become a tall plant that towers over your grass. Although butterflies are very fond of it – you won’t be as it plunges parts of your lawn into the shade! In its early stages, Fat Hen can again be dealt with using our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer but if it is beginning to take over – you may need to call in a professional to remove it as cutting it down could spread its weed seeds further.

Charlock

Charlock is another sneaky weed that starts off as a small, almost non-descript, leafy weed close to the ground. Its leaves start off kidney-shaped so are easy to spot in amongst the rest of your lush green grass. Just like Fat Hen, it is best caught in its early stages and can be dug out using a garden trowel. If it begins to take over your lawn you may need to employ the use of a herbicide designed to kill it off.

Thistle

Thistles are not as common as some of the other weeds in the garden, but can become a real nightmare. And unless you’re Scottish and feeling particularly patriotic, you’ll want to tackle them as soon as they appear! Thistles like most weeds are best dealt with when they begin to grow – and right before they begin to flower. Unlike some other weeds however, digging them up or cutting them down is not the best option here as they are quick to take root again. To effectively eradicate Thistle, you should use a selective herbicide.

Daisy

If you are fond of a weed-free pristine and green lawn, then a daisy popping up and ruining your work of art might put a bit of a dampener on your day. But out of all the ‘weeds’ daisies are very easy to take care of. They are extremely shallow rooting and can be easily dug out and discarded. If they happen to be all throughout your lawn, you can use our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer to tackle this. If you don’t mind daisies in your lawn then they are a great source of nectar for bees and butterflies.

Creeping Buttercup

You’ll recognise this weed from the nostalgic buttercup-to-chin ‘Do you like butter?’ test. Although it may hold fond memories, you may become frustrated when that memorabilia keeps popping up all over your lawn! Another great source of pollen, Buttercups do no harm in your lawn but can be unsightly for those who want to see a sea of green – and green only. Buttercups can be removed using our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer that works over 2 weeks and also greens up your grass!

Dock

Dock leaf is only useful in your garden if you have been stung by a nettle, and if you have let your lawn get that unruly that you have both dock and nettles – you might need to reignite your lawncare regime! Docks can be dug out using a garden trowel – make sure to remove the whole plant and all its roots. Although dock carries minimal risk of reseeding, its best to get all parts of the plant to stop any possibility of this happening.

Horsetail

Horsetail is a reoccurring nightmare for any gardener as it can grow just about anywhere – in flower beds, lawn edges and in your grass. It is well known for its ability to re-root which makes it quite the issue when trying to remove it entirely from your lawn. You might exhaust yourself by continually removing it by hand from your lawn, but the best way to deal with it is to mow it incredibly close so it begins to break down the weed’s root system.

Plantain

Last on our winding list of weeds is Plantain – a very leafy weed that can cover your lawn pretty quickly if not taken care of! This is another weed that you can remove by hand or by using a garden trowel – again ensure that you are removing the whole plant including all roots.

So, there you have it, there are lots of weeds just waiting to weed their way into your lawn! And although some are inevitable, feeding and looking after your lawn can go a long way to keeping it healthy and weed free for most of the year.

*A selective herbicide is a weedkiller specifically used for killing off one type of weed. This can be made up of one chemical or multiple chemicals. It is important to carry out your own research into what herbicide is correct for the weed you have in your lawn before using it.