Description
Book SynopsisThis ingenious and informative new illustrated book reveals the inside stories of more than 50 common and successful weeds, including cultivated `thugs' which gardeners plant at their peril, and presents its findings as evidence for the prosecution and defence. It then explores the ways in which the weeds are so successful, whether annual, biennial or perennial, and suggests effective ways of removing or controlling them, and for using them wisely. Where important, as with weeds such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam, it includes your legal obligations as a gardener to stop these most pernicious weeds from spreading. A useful reference section tells you all you need to know about weeding tools, weedkillers, composting weeds and using mulches to stop them spreading, plus specific details on weeds in lawns and ponds and weeds and the law. So whether you're worried by groundsel or ground elder, nettles or knotweed, bamboo or brambles, or would like to encourage dandelions or clovers to grow exactly where you want them, then these are the verdicts you need.
Table of ContentsWEEDS ON TRIAL Introduction SECTION 1: ANNUALS and BIENNIALS Introduction Charlock - Sinapis arvensis Chickweed - Stellaria media Common groundsel - Senecio vulgaris Fat hen - Chenopodium album Field pennycress - Thlaspi arvense Goosegrass - Galium aparine Hairy bittercress - Cardamine hirsuta Hedge mustard - Sisymbrium (formerly Erysimum) officinale Herb Robert - Geranium robertianum Himalayan balsam - Impatiens glandulifera Knotgrass - Polygonum aviculare Prickly sow thistle - Sonchus asper Red deadnettle - Lamium purpureum Scarlet pimpernel - Anagallis arvensis Shepherd's purse - Capsella bursa-pastoris Smooth sow thistle - Sonchus oleraceus Spear thistle - Cirsium vulgare SECTION 2: PERENNIALS Introduction Bramble - Rubus fruticosus Broad-leaved dock - Rumex obtusifolius Couch grass - Elymus repens Creeping buttercup - Ranunculus repens Creeping thistle - Cirsium arvense Curled dock - Rumex crispus Daisy - Bellis perennis Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale Enchanter's nightshade - Circaea leutetiana Field bindweed - Convolvulus arvensis Greater bindweed - Calystegia sepium Greater plantain - Plantago major Ground elder - Aegopodium podagraria Horsetail - Equisetum arvense Japanese knotweed - Fallopia japonica Lesser celandine - Ranunculus ficaria Lesser hairy willowherb - Epilobium parviflorum Lords and ladies - Arum maculatum Ragwort - Senecio jacobaea Red clover - Trifolium pratense Slender speedwell - Veronica filiformis Stinging nettle - Urtica dioica White clover - Trifolium repens White deadnettle - Lamium maculatum SECTION 3: GARDEN `THUGS' Introduction Bamboo - Arundinaria, Phyllostachys and other types Borage - Borago officinalis Buddleia - Buddleja davidii Crocosmia - Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Grape hyacinth - Muscari armenaicum Horseradish - Armoracia rusticana Ivy - Hedera helix Japanese anemone - Anemone hupehensis, Anemone hupehensis var. japonica and many named varieties Jerusalem artichoke - Helianthus tuberosus Lemon balm - Melissa officinalis Leyland cypress - Cuprocyparis leylandii Mint - Mentha x piperita Stag's horn sumach - Rhus typhinia SECTION 4: DEALING WITH WEEDS (reference) Introduction Tools for weeding Composting weeds Mulching Weed killers Lawns Weeds and the law The weed vocabulary Index
