WEEDS AND NUISANCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1938, Page 26

WEEDS AND NUISANCES

Every gardener recognises sorrel, dock, couch grass, and dandelions as weeds, besides many others, but there are many cultivated plants which may become quite as troublesome once they get hold of a place. Frequently they are introduced into a garden in ignorance of their spreading habit and while they are, in many cases, quite desirable if they can be kept within bounds, the difficulty is to prevent them taking charge. Some of the bulbous plants are the worst offenders, multiplying from both seeds and bulbils. Alliums, montbretias, gladioli (some varieties), tristis are among the culprits. Alliums (of which there are many varieties, some having quite pretty flowers) produce hundreds of tiny bulbils round each mother bulb, and, as they breed when quite small, it is exceedingly v difficult to get them out of the ground. The smallest bulb left in the soil will grow even when buried a foot deep. Some gladioli are almost as bad in a similar way, having hundreds of tiny bulbils which fall off into the ground when the main plant is lifted.' Tristis, which is a variety of gladiolus, is equally difficult to eradicate once it becomes established. Morphixias, freezias, and many other small bulbous plants soon spread through a garden, especially if allowed to seed. Montbretias spread very rapidly by underground stolons, especially the commoner kinds. - 1 Perhaps the worst offender of all is oxalis, which, when once it gets a hold in a garden, is almost impossible to get rid of. The roots go a long way down, are rather fine, and have small bulbs at intervals along their whole length. These tiny bulbs fall back into the grourffe and will come up no matter how deep they may be. Getting rid

of such pests as those mentioned is a difficult matter; in fact, it is practically impossible except by persistent erlort. It is quite certain that they cannot be eradicated at a first attempt, however careful one may be. The present is the best time to deal with them, as while they are in growth the bulbils are less liable to fall off.

The roots should be carefully lifted and placed in a bucket to be burnt, ">t if there is too much soil attached, some water may be added and then boiled. Where it is possible it is well to leave the ground fallow throughout the year and to fork out every one as it appears, afterwards using the hoe at frequeat intervals or whenever a plant shovrs up. Even the worst of weeds can foe killed eventually if they are prevented from making foliage with which to breathe.

Of the common garden weeds sorrel is particularly troublesome in some soils. The roots run for several feet and growths appear quite a long way from the main plant. As much as possible of the root should be forked out —any little piece left in is sufficient to start a fresh plant—and the ground should receive a fairly heavy dressing of lime.

Docks are worst in heavy soils. They should be dug right out where practicable, but if this cannot be done for any reason they may be killed by applying weed killer to the crown of the plant, forcing it into the crown with a wooden skewer. This method is also good for dandelions. Convolvulus or bind weed is another bad weed in some localities. The only way to deal with it is to dig it out. As with sorrel and couch grass, every bit of root must be removed, and generally it is necessary to go over the ground several times before you really have it clean.