Category Archives: weeds

Dealing With Couch Grass

Dealing with couch grass is a problem that most gardeners and allotment holders will have to face at one time or another. This common weed can not only be invasive, it also prevents seeds from other plants germinating. It looks like a normal grass on the surface, but it’s underground that the problems get real. The roots form a dense, almost impenetrable barrier. It spreads in a number of ways, root division, runners and occasionally by seed. Couch Grass Spreads Rapidly All it takes is one extremely small section of the white rhizome to lay on top of the soil… → Read More

Weeds As Soil Indicators

There is an old story about a blind man who is looking at a piece of land for his daughter to purchase, he asks the seller to describe the land to him. After a short description he asks for a list of weeds growing on the land and makes his decision to buy based on that description. It’s a nice story and whether it’s true or not it does demonstrate the use of weeds as soil indicators. To be that knowledgeable about how plants grow in certain conditions that you don’t even have to see it to know would be… → Read More

4 Benefits Of Growing Elderberry Trees

If you think of the elderberry as just a weed tree, think again. Apart from it’s health effects on the human body, elderberry can be useful in the garden too. So here are 4 benefits of growing elderberry trees. What is a Elderberry Tree? Members of the Adoxaceae family of plants, there are several different varieties of the sambucus tree. The most common is sambucus nigra European or black elderberry. It can grow up to 30 feet ( 9 metres) in height with white flowers turning to clusters of black berries. Some grow more as shrubs than trees but they… → Read More

How To Get Rid Of Stinging Nettles Organically

Stinging nettles are in most cases a nuisance to us gardeners, and if you touch them wrong they’re literally a pain. There are lots of ways to deal with nettles, and there are many chemicals that will do the job. But if you’re like me then you’ll want to know how to get rid of nettles organically. How to Get Rid of Stinging Nettles Organically Lets look at the way stinging nettles spread. They have evolved to survive, they do this in 2 ways. Stinging nettles spread by seed distribution and by spreading their roots. Getting rid of them without… → Read More

Dealing With Perennial Weeds

Bindweed

If you are a regular visitor to growing-guides.co.uk you will know that I grow organically as much as I am able, but I have been having problems dealing with perennial weeds. So this post is in a way an admission of defeat as any thing else. Dealing With Perennial Weeds Most annual weeds can be dug or pulled up and as long as they are not in flower they can be added to the compost bin. Thier roots are usually shallow and they spread by seed distribution so as long as you remove them early enough they don’t become too… → Read More