I bought my house here in Dublin, Ireland about a year ago and a lot of the gardens have this weed. It is a non-flowering (from what I've seen) low growing weed that spreads into every gap, whole, etc., and into the lawn. It is easy to take out where it is standalone but once in the lawn it is proving tough. Little bits remain in flower beds also, despite ongoing weeding.
Hoping for an organic or manual solution, or just a name so I know what I am dealing with, or a good book ref that might help me identify it.
Many thanks ... Hope someone can help.
[ March 24, 2003: Message edited by: Colm ]
[ March 24, 2003: Message edited by: Colm ]
bbbbbbbbb Colm, Dublin, Ireland.
From: Dublin, Ireland | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I have had another look at this weed and taken some new pics, and now I don't think it is common chickweed as there are no flowers. I have taken photo of small root like structures at the leave/branch nodes. The plant seems to spread by rooting via these ... Not certain of this, but certainly looks like it. Maybe these are seeds, but they look like roots to me ...
Photo 1 (138Kb): Close Up1 Photo 2 (105Kb) (probably best one): Close Up2 Photo 3 (312Kb) (higher quality of last one): Close Up3
If someone even could suggest another forum that helps with identification of plants/weeds I'd appreciate that.
I have tried broadleaf systematic herbicide but only minor success despite two relatively heavy treatments ... May still succumb ... ?
Root system is generally shallow (1cm to 3cm), with just the odd deeper point. Does succumb to a general "kill everything" path clearing weed killer, but can't use that on the lawn!!!
All comments/help appreciated.
Thanks, Colm.
bbbbbbbbb Colm, Dublin, Ireland.
From: Dublin, Ireland | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I found an web site (www.garden.ie) where I could ask a local Irish expert questions ... He has identified it as Helxine. Having read a bit about hexline (also known by many other names, such as mind your own business, and baby's tears) this certainly sounds like my weed alright. Hard to kill in lawns, and resistant to lawn weed killers!
posted
Colm are you sure it is Helxine? I am in agreement with Weed Woman - From the pictures it sure looks like Purslane. I have some baby tears which is another name for Helxine but it is easy to kill using straight 5% general household vinegar. Just put it in a simple spray bottle (undiluted) with a few drops of dishsoap (this makes it adhere to the weed) and by the next morning it is history. Hexline is real fragile looking whereas Purslane has more succulant looking leaves and is a pain in the you know what to get rid of. Did you get rid of what you believe is Helxine, if so what did you use? Curious Catlover, Karen
bbbbbbbbb
From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
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I will check out purslane and see if it matches, but any pictures I could get on the net confirmed that it was helxine. It is very easy to kill, and I had no problems on paths or borders, and veg area. But the lawn (which is tiny ... and I'd to be embarassed to even mention just how small it is, but it is mine, and I wanted to try and "save" it ... so to speak ... rather than redigging it all) was another story, and was where I hit problems.
In the non-lawn areas I just dig it out. It is persistent to some extent and I have to keep an eye for new growth. Also boiling water worked on the path, and around the borders before there was any other growth.
In the lawn I spread sulphate of Iron, which killed most of it. Raked it (which I was advised not to as helxine spreads so easily, but I wanted to clean it all up), then put down sand. It is now perhaps 95% gone. I reckon once I keep at it I can get rid of 100% and end up with grass and only grass.
[ May 09, 2003: Message edited by: Colm ]
bbbbbbbbb Colm, Dublin, Ireland.
From: Dublin, Ireland | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Checked out Weed IDs and it isn't purslane, but looks very like it alright.
The telling factors were that purslane has a taproot, and yellow flowers, but the "weed" I have is fibrous roots only, and no real flower, other than tiny white things, which may or may not be flowers ... It is hard to tell as they are so small.
Check out this to see helxine, and info on how hard to remove from a lawn.
... I'll get there!!! :-)
Thanks, Colm.
bbbbbbbbb Colm, Dublin, Ireland.
From: Dublin, Ireland | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Oh thank you both for the resources. I have something that looks a little like angelica and is trying to attack my shade garden. I keep pullin out roots that are so long and thin like runners. If it was something good I would contain it.
I used those resources to find out. It's a Ground-elder. Now I can get rid of the bugger. I will keep some contained though. It says for aching joints and sciatica. Thank you so both so much for the wonderful resources, a little rainy here today in PA but nice. Suppose to warm up a bit. Enjoy the day now, Thea
posted
do you have a source for corn gluten meal over there, is may be found at the animal feed store, it is basicly a ground up corn by product. what it does is inhibits seed germination of any kind but is safe for kids and pets. used it last year and could not believe the results after a few weeks it help cut the dandlions in my lawn by 2/3. which is quite a lot as i have 1 neighbour that does nothing about her weeds. i convinced her to try it as well, and we will see this year what the results are. it may require several applications over a couple of years. there is a web site on this topic
bbbbbbbbb alberta
From: calgary | Registered: May 2003
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Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
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