Summer Flowering Weeds

Creeping Cinquefoil

Flowers June to September

Not a major lawn weed generally invading the lawn from the garden borders.

• Often found in dry or neglected areas
• Can be raked or hand weeded but make sure you get all the creeping stems
• Can be treated with our recommended weed killers though repeat treatments are usually required

Hawkbit

Flowers July to October

Part of the dandelion family along with Cat’s Ear, Hawkweed and Hawks Beard below. For a visual comparison enlarge the Hawks Beard image; there are two Hawkbit plants on the right hand side.

• Generally only found in dry or neglected lawns
• Use our recommended weed killers for one hit success
• Though I’m all for hand weeding this one is difficult due to its long tap root
• Between treatments pinch off flower heads to prevent seed formation

Hawks Beard

Flowers June to October

Another member of the dandelion family along with Hawkweed and Hawkbit above. For a visual comparison enlarge the Hawks Beard image; the Hawks Beard is to the left of two Hawkbit plants on the right.

• As with Hawkbit generally found in dry or neglected lawns
• Use our recommended weed killers for one hit success
• This one is a perennial so is very easy to hand weed as there is no long tap root
• Between treatments pinch off flower heads to prevent seed formation

Ragwort or Ragweed

Flowers June to October

Top left: Young lawn size plant
Bottom-left: Plant 4 weeks old
Right: Mature flowering plant 18″ tall

Common as young plants particularly if your lawn is near to grazing land. This is now classified as a noxious weed and should, by law be removed from your land. Though poisonous to horses it is the main diet of the cinnabar moth caterpillar so expect another extinction shortly!!

• Generally will not survive long in a frequently mown lawn
• Can be hand weeded with a good pull
• Any of our selective weed killers will kill ragwort though repeat applications are recommended

Selfheal

Flowers June to September

Not only is selfheal a major lawn weed but it is extremely persistent. Hides happily in borders and under hedges readily seeding in the lawn. Once you have this plant on your property it is virtually impossible to eradicate it completely.

• Sets seed and creeps so be vigilant and remove plants from the lawn and borders as soon as they appear
• Selfheal plants can be tall and lanky in borders and very squat in lawns thus avoiding the mower
• Can be killed fairly easily with our recommended weed killers but underground growth will usually survive and return the following year

Thistle

Flowers June to September

 Dwarf Thistle

 Creeping Thistle

There are two thistles you may find in your lawn; Dwarf Thistle with a reddy purple flower, no stem and is squat; and the more common Creeping Thistle which has a& lilac flower on a tall stem and has creeping roots.

• Can be common in lawns after flowering though regular mowing usually sorts them out
• Both have good roots so a bit of force is required if hand weeding
• Any of our selective weed killers will kill thistles though repeat applications are recommended

Yarrow or Milfoil

Flowers June to August

Favours dry, poor or compacted soils. If you find this in your lawn consider renovation or even replacing the lawn after rotovating the soil.

• Rake infested area prior to mowing to raise up leaves to mower height
• Can be dug out if only a few plants are apparent
• Not easy to kill with weed killer due to feathery leaves. Repeat treatments will be required so apply either of our recommended weedkiller concentrates to the whole area followed by one or two applications of either of the Ready to Use Weed killers 6 weeks apart, which must be targeted accurately on any remaining Yarrow to avoid damage to the grass.