Woodrush in my lawn
Christine 9
Posts: 2
Some years ago (maybe 30) I was given the name of a chemical that would get rid of the problem - and it did help for a while. But now the woodrush is back with the vengeance and I cannot remember what the chemical was. Can anyone help or provide any other ideas I could try please? (Short of digging up the lawn as I cannot physically tackle that)
0
Posts
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=481
you might find some suggestions here
In the sticks near Peterborough
I have found woodrush in the RHS web site
The best way to eradicate field woodrush and prevent it coming back it to apply lime.
Apply ground chalk or ground limestone in late autumn or early winter, after mowing has ended, at 60g per sq m (2oz per sq yd). Do not use hydrated lime.
Many nitrogen fertilisers acidify the soil and are best avoided. Sulphate of ammonia is particularly acidifying. Most lawn feeds won't significantly affect pH, but where high nitrogen fertilisers are needed consider chicken manure pellets or nitro-chalk (also sold as Nitratechalk) which should be neutral in effect, rather than sulphate of amonnia.
Chemical controlsField woodrush is resistant to lawn weedkillers, but those containing mecoprop-P (e.g. Doff Lawn Spot Weeder, Westland Resolva Lawn Weedkiller or Bayer Lawn Weedkiller 2) may check growth if repeated applications are made and the soil pH is raised by liming.
James
Than you both. This is really helpful. I'll give the lime treatment a try.
Sorry I have taken so long to respond. I was expecting the website to alert me by email that there were responses to my question, but this didn't happen
Christine; I have had a big problem all year with these email responses; I recently complained and had one day, yes, ONE DAY OF RESPONSES. Now; nothing, so have complained (nicely) again, but nothing! If I can get them sometimes it means that there is nothing wrong with my computer set-up.
I never get email alerts - sometimes I get a number n the top right corner to indicate that I have a PM and sometimes I don't - Daniel said they're trying to fix it - apparently the difficulty is getting it right for all different operating systems - I suppose when you think about it this sort of technology is still in its infancy - in 50 years time it'll all run smooth as clockwork
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Having discovered this recently in my own lawn (after seeing it in a couple of other lawns I've been attending to), I first had to identify the plant/weed. This forum thread and others gave me some invaluable advice to work with. At the same time, I discovered a 'possible' method of removal that may help others.
If you are having any difficulty getting your hands on lime and/or specific brand lawn weedkillers (the ones with mecoprop-P), try raking in and around the area of the field woodrush, mow the lawn short, then immediately apply any brand lawn weedkiller.
The raking helps lift the plant from its usual low lying level. When you short mow, it makes incisions in the foliage, thus allowing the lawn weedkiller to penetrate the fine outer hairs of the leaves.
Whilst waiting on a delivery of lime, I used the above technique using some Weedol Lawn Weedkiller I keep in the shed for treating patches of creeping buttercup. It took about a week, but then the usually vibrant green field woodrush started to turn brown.
The process is ongoing, so I will report back here if the end result proves to be successful. I don't have any expectations, but it seems to be heading in the right direction so far.
P.S. I dropped by my local Home Bargains in full mask and gloves attire (still open during coronavirus lockdown 👍🏻), looking for these branded lawn weedkillers. Couldn't find any in stock, but they had some sort of own-brand spray bottles which contain the 'magical' mecoprop-P. 99p for 500ml, so I've bagged a few and will do a comparison test on another lawn where I know field woodrush exists in large patches. Stay tuned!