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Help- it's taking over my garden. I had SOME last year, but now I have masses- it's in the grass and through my flower beds.
I try to garden organically, but everything says if I dig it out, it'll spread because the tubers will split and propagate. Is there anything that eats it? an indigenous insect? Sabre Tooth Tiger? Anything?
Or will it have to be glyphosate?
I tried to be nice to it and leave it alone, but it's trying to take over the universe with a solid base n my poor garden......
And how is it spreading- I can see where parches have spread out, but there are new patches everywhere. Am I carrying bits on my feet? Is the dog? Do they self seed metres away? Am I not killing it thoroughly in my composting?
If you get the impression I'm alarmed, you're right....
When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!
I have got a horrible feeling it will have to be glyphosate, but if you do get a sabre tooth tiger please can I come and tick it. I haven't got that one on my list.
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Trouble with glyphosate is that it'll kill anything it comes into contact with. Ditto the only organic weed killer I know of which is a mixture of vinegar, some salt and a little washing up liquid. I suppose you could try painting either mixture on the offending weed where there are plants you want to keep:-( Sorry I don't know how it's spreading, if they are tubers, then I'm not sure your compost heap would get hot enough to kill them:-( You need a really big heap to get to those temperatures:-( None of it's good news is it? You could try boiling water and salt - but again any contact with the stuff you want to keep will kill them too:-(
Hi
I just registered this evening.
I'm a keen organic gardener in Aberdeenshire near Mintlaw.
Lots of Quines around here
My RHS book lists lesser celandine as ranunculus ficaria and says it is tuberous.
The only organic methods I can think of to get rid of it are repeated hoeing or digging it out. If you keep cutting off the top growth eventually the plant will die. If this is too long term then glyphosate is less harmful to wildlife than some weedkillers. In a lawn you could maybe use a stick applicator to spot weedkill.
I think I'd try the hoeing and digging first.
I had a similar problem with ground elder and dug it out repeatedly for 3 years - finally beat it.
Disposal can be done on a compost heap but as someone mentioned a normal garden heap might not get hot enough. Either has to go with green waste to a commercial recycler like Keenans, or dump it in a tub of water and wait until its unrecognisable - then compost it.
Thanks, all, for your replies. Welcome scruff- if you're any good- I'm not- I may be calling out in terror for assistance. I'm about 25 miles south west of you, and there's get few of us locals on here. I look with envy at advice I see for hardy plants which would keel over in my garden- especially this last winter.
I guess I can give it one more season of digging and hoeing- and I'll leave it where it doesn't matter.
I have some success with Bishop Weed- ground elder- myself. It lurks on my boundaries and makes occasional forays, but I have it on the run. This stuff, however, is another story.
I have two huge compost bins, but, again, suffer from the North East climate- ie no sun.
Do you happen to know if Keenans will shred for a householder, scruff?
Scruff said:I had a similar problem with ground elder and dug it out repeatedly for 3 years - finally beat it.
Welcome to the forum scruff:-))) I agree that a war of attrition can work very well, I also got rid of ground elder that way, also celandine - the trouble is, I don't think I can manage it now, I started digging at a patch of ground elder only yesterday in my new garden and today my old hands know all about it, it was gripping the fork handle that has done it. If you're fit and able, keep at it, it'll eventually give up the ghost and if you're not, then some sort of killer may be you're only option. Good luck:-)))
Just enjoy it A Q it soon dies off and other flowers take over and not much colour early in year when Celandine flowers.
Hi AQ
25 miles SW is that Inverurie area?
Don't think Keenans will do it for you - put it in the Aberdeenshire green waste skip - they go to Keenans. I know what you mean about the sun. I've 6 compost bins, each 4ft square and 4ft high. The temperatures since last Nov have meant not much composting action in 2 of them and now I'm getting short of the stuff.
Bought 2 cubic metres from Keenans a couple of years back but its not as good.
I looked up the celandine on Garden Organic website and its clear the plant is active from Jan to June when it starts to close down for the season. If you go the glyphosate route best do it soon while the plant is really active and the weedkiller will be most effective.
i use glyphosate as a last resort - spray the leaves - wrap with bin bag and leave to die off - bit harder with little plants though
good luck - i would love too see your tiger too if you get one
Izzy
As Sooty says enjoy it as its not visable for that long.
I always look forward to it coming up from the depths of winter and frozen soil.
Chris S.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
I may take some photos for you- I really can't ignore it everywhere. Really.
I think I'm convinced about digging, tho'
Have you tried the mushroom man at Balmedie for compost. Fairly cheap- very good mulch. Not totally convinced there's much life in it, mind you.
I used a heap before the snow came, but I haven't made it as far as those beds yet to see how it turned out. I know some of it is COVERED with flippin' celandine, mind you.