COMMON AMENITY WEEDS
Amenity weeds are prevalent across the UK, affecting land and property that is managed, or is responsible for the upkeep of, by Local Authorities and Housing Associations. Here we list the most common weeds that we control as part of our Integrated Weed Management programme.
annual weeds
Fat hen (Chenopodium album)
The Fat Hen weed is the fastest growing of all of the annual weeds. There are many different varieties. It is possible Fat Hen to produce up to 20,000 seeds in its lifetime just from one single plant.
Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chickweed is one of the most common weeds within the UK. It varies greatly in size and weight and can be found in a multitude of locations including paving, roadsides, shrub beds
Groundsel (Scenecio vulgaris)
Is capable of being blown in by wind from surrounding areas such as fields and waste ground. Like most weeds, Groundsel produces a large number of seeds, it also can produce numerous generations of weed within one growing season.
Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirusta)
A common weed in the UK often found in areas of bare soil and pathways. It only grows to a few centimetres. The seed pods formed after flowering can explode and disperse the seeds several feet away.
Cleavers (Gallium aparine)
Known more widely as “sticky willie”, its characteristic sticky seeds and stem make it a prevalent spreader, being carried on animals and clothing to other areas. Seeds are produced in large quantities usually between 300 to 400 seeds and the seed bank can persist for up to six years.
Annual Meadow Grass (Poa annua)
Is a common weed throughout the UK often seen on pathways, shrub beds and within sports fields and maintained turf. It seeds prolifically from early Spring until autumn and dies off following seeding.
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
An annual weed which quickly invades and colonises and are Referred to as the poor mans weather glass as the flowers close when the sky is overcast. Scarlet pimpernel resembles chickweed, although the stems are square on Pimpernel and round on chickweed, despite the name sometimes the flowers can be white or bright blue
Storksbill (Erodim cicutarium)
Is an annual weed with fern-like leaves and creeping stems which are hairy and scaly and a rosette of leaves arising from a thick tap root. Small pink flowers are seen on an erect stalk with bean like fruits. Grows to a maximum height of 60cm, can colonise many areas.
Yellow oxalis Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculate)
A low growing annual weed that appears with bright yellow flowers. It has clover like leaves and often is mis-identified for this reason. A very prevalent invader and colonises an area quickly due to the stems being able to root where they touch.
perennial weeds
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Is a member of the buttercup family and is native to Britain, they grow from small tubers and spread via tubercles (bulbils) and can outcompete and colonise an area. This is difficult to treat due to its short growing period.
Hedge Bindweed (calystegia sepium) or Field Bindweed (Conolvulus)
Bindweed refers to two very similar varieties of trumpet flowered weeds. Hedge bindweed has white flowers and strong twining stems, field bindweed has white or pink trumpet type flowers and is weaker stemmed. They both regenerate from small sections.
Green Alknet (Pentaglottis sempervirens)
Also known as Burglos and has bright blue flowers, this plant spreads by seed and regenerates from a deep tap root. It colonises close to the parent plant, but seeds can be carried over large distances by animals and within clothing.
Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)
Spreads via rhizomes and regenerates from tiny fragments. Very easily introduced to other areas. Outcompetes other vegetation and quickly colonises waste ground. Usually found in gardens and may have been transported in plants with contaminated compost.
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Herb Robert is a native member of the hardy geranium family. It is found growing throughout the British Isles and favours shaded habitats such as woods, hedgerows, banks, coastal shingle and rocky places. Herb Robert readily self-seeds and is a common Annual or Biennial weed.
Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Urtica nettle groups have stinging hairs on the stem. Nettles are hardy perennials with creeping roots and form large clumps up to 1.2 metres in height. hey also bear brownish green tassle-like flowers from May to September, very different from the more attractive hooded flowers of deadnettle’s which appear white, yellow or purple. Male and female flowers are on separate plants.
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officianale)
Widespread and common weed within the UK, Dandelions occur on any disturbed land from fields to waste ground, they have a long tap root and fluffy seed heads form following flowering and are carried on the wind. During the war coffee was scarce so a substitute was made from the ground roots of dandelions.
Birds-Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Commonly known as “eggs and bacon”, a low creeping perennial with yellow clusters of flowers tinged with red. Will quickly colonise baron ground and also grassland and pathways. Also known as “granny’s toenails” due to the claw like seed pods following flowering.
Yarrow (achillea millfolium)
Yarrow can either be mat forming or an upright perennial, with clusters of small white and sometimes pink flowers. The plant is widespread across the UK and found in many areas such as grass land, waste ground and pavements. The plant is named after the Greek hero Achilles who is supposed to have used the plant to treat wounds on the battle field.